The City of Sydney has asked the NSW Government for the chance to reward consumers who hand in their empty beverage containers.
In the government discussion paper, Lord Mayor Clover Moore made the point that container deposit schemes have proven effective in increasing recycling rates and reducing litter.
“It’s time NSW got on board by providing more options and incentives for people to recycle,” she said.
“South Australia’s scheme has achieved significant recycling rates – nearly double the rate of NSW.
"The Northern Territory also offers a financial incentive in return for eligible containers, which has produced great recycling rates.”
The City of Sydney has already installed four trial reverse vending machines in Haymarket, Circular Quay, Redfern and Wynyard.
The National Litter Index states that drink containers account for some 44 per cent of all public place litter.
On 21 February 2015, the Premier, the Hon Mike Baird MP announced that, if he was elected the NSW Government would implement a container deposit scheme (CDS) by 1 July 2017.
Read more opinions about the scheme here.
