The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has hit out at the planned introduction of a national drink container deposit scheme (CDS), labelling it as another tax that Australian families will have to bear.

 

“A national CDS would cost Australian families a fortune.  It would effectively impose a tax on drinks including milk, juice, water, wine and beer that would significantly increase the cost of an average shopping basket,” AFGC General Manager of the Packaging Stewardship Forum Jenny Pickles said.

 

“This comes at a time when many families are struggling with the rising cost of living.  A national CDS would also pose a threat to jobs, particularly in the already struggling manufacturing sector”

 

Currently, the scheme is being considered by the COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water in a bid to increase recycling rates. The system would see a 10-cent deposit added to every drink container in the country, including milk, wine and water bottles.

 

Currently, Australians consume over 13 billion such containers each year, while recycling about 40 per cent of those.

 

South Australia currently operates a CDS, with the Northern Territory scheduled to introduce its own scheme in 2012. The New South Wales Government has also recently introduced legislation that will see the establishment of its own scheme.