Container Return Scheme could slash amount of recyclable waste going to landfills

A Container Return Scheme could slash the amount of recyclable waste going into New Zealand's landfills but the proposal has had mixed reviews. 

Time is running out to submit feedback on a nationwide Container Return Scheme (CRS), which was announced by the Government in March as part of a major recycling system shake-up.

Submissions close at the end of the week and while many are supportive of the scheme, some businesses say improvements are needed.

For many people, putting out a recycling bin is a weekly task. But for Kristy Lorson and her family - it's one that takes place every 6 months.

"In 2015 we were putting out a rubbish bag once every 2 weeks... these days it takes us a couple of years to fill a wheelie bin," the Earth Savvy founder, Lorson, told Newshub. 

For Lorson, reducing her overall waste is a no-brainer.

"We're so behind the times here in New Zealand when it comes to waste solutions, that there are a lot of other countries that are doing a lot more. It's about time we caught up," Lorson says. 

Each year, Kiwis drink from over two billion glass, plastic and other single-use drink containers.

It's estimated over half of these empty beverage containers end up in landfills or littering our streets and beaches.

Parul Sood from Auckland Council said a CRS would slash those figures.

"We recycle about 45 percent of drink containers right now, which could go up to 85-90 percent ... that's a massive shift that we're not capturing at the moment," Sood, Waste Solutions general manager, told Newshub. 

Under the proposed CRS, when a business or customer buys a drink that's made of plastic, glass, metal or tetra pack, they'll effectively pay a small deposit.

At this stage, it's set to be 20 cents. 

When the empty container is returned to a collection point, that deposit is then refunded.

The Brewers Association said there are some great ideas, but tweaks need to be made. 

"We're supportive of a CRS in principle, but we think there needs to be a bit of work done around the economics of it, to make sure we're getting the benefits of it as well as not costing the consumers too much money," Dylan Firth, executive director, told Newshub.  

He wants to see the 20 cent deposit fee dropped to 10. 

"The 20 cent deposit plus the scheme fees and GST added to that, could potentially add up to 20 percent on a box of beers for the consumer," Firth said. 

He said it means Kiwis could pay roughly $4 to $8 more for a 24-pack of beer, to cover that cost.

"That's obviously quite a big jump in quite a short period of time ... we think there's other options on the table," Firth told Newshub. 

But the Minister for the Environment said lowering the refundable deposit amount would result in a lower recycling rate. 

"The proposal that is being consulted on is for a 20-cent refundable deposit. This is in line with higher-performing schemes globally. A 20-cent deposit would provide a greater incentive to reduce litter and recycle beverage containers," David Parker told Newshub. 

"Whether to pass on the costs of scheme fees to consumers would be businesses’ choice. This is intended to incentivise supply chains to minimise costs as those who don’t will suffer a competitive disadvantage," Parker said. 

But the Good George Brewery said businesses also have to pay admin costs upfront each month, for each product.

"What they're asking for has not been properly thought through. They're asking us to guess what we're going to sell the month before, and then at the end of the month tell them what we actually did sell, which just seems crazy," Brian Watson, co-founder of Good George Brewery, told Newshub. 

"It will crucify a small business. For my business alone, it will potentially cost up to half a million dollars, out of just cash flow. We just can't afford that."

But what everyone can agree on is working together. 

"We want to make sure as an industry, we have a voice at the table," Watson said. 

"We want to work with the Government ... if we work collaboratively, we'll get a much, much better result." 

Sood agrees. 

"We want to make sure the governance of the scheme is done well and you have good representation from the community, from the industry, to make sure the scheme is set up to deliver what it's supposed to," Sood said.

So that it gets the environmental outcome everyone desires.

Watch the full story above.