Brewers go cold on container desposits

The country's major beer brewers have launched a pre-emptory strike against proposals for a national container deposit scheme (CDS) for bottles, claiming any such move would be discriminatory against beverage manufacturers.

In a statement issued ahead of the latest federal parliamentary inquiry into a CDS in Adelaide, the Brewers Association of Australian and New Zealand, which represents such major local brewers as Carlton and United, Lion and Coopers,  instead argued that any proposed product stewardship policies should be applied to all packaging, including food.
 
The CEO of the association, Denita Wawn, said the group's Australian members, which represent 95 per cent of the local beer market, had already made great strides in increasing packaging recycling and promoting litter reduction.

“We believe more can and should be done to build on this success,” Wawn said.

“However, the Brewers Association also believes that product stewardship policies should represent best available cost and efficiency, and be non-discriminatory in applying to all packaging, not just beverages.

“More particularly, policies should not unfairly penalise the beer industry and its customers, nor increase the price that Australians pay for their favourite beer.”

“Unless these issues can be fully resolved, the Brewers Association does not support the introduction of any national container deposit scheme,” she said.

In August this year, State and federal environment ministers stopped short of implementing a national CDS, instead opting for further industry and community consultation.

A final decision is not expected until well into next year, the ministers said.