NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has labelled the rollout of the state government’s controversial “cash-for-cans” scheme as “diabolical”.
From Friday, consumers can head to 250 collection points – the majority of which are in Sydney – to redeem “eligible” bottles for 10 cents each.
Collection points include reverse vending machines, over-the-counter sites such as petrol stations and cafes and automated depots for high volumes of returns.
State Environment minister Gabrielle Upton admits the roll-out has had its “challenges”.
“There have been challenges…it is a massive logistical scheme, it’s going to be better than any other scheme in Australia, so there have been challenges getting to some of those locations it’s been in some cases landlords have not wanted tenants to have collection points,” she told ABC Radio on Friday.
Small businesses say they’ll go broke because of the compliance costs, while there’s criticism the reverse vending machines are not accessible to people with disabilities.
Woolworths, a refund partner of the scheme, has already erected signs in its stores advising customers “the price of many beverages will be increasing” with “the NSW Government initiative to reduce litter”.
Coca-Cola Amatil also says it will recover costs of the scheme from customers by raising prices.
Anyone who hands in containers can donate their 10-cent refund to charity or receive a refund into a registered PayPal account or in the form of a Woolworths retail voucher.
The cash goes to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) which registers the details of each container in order to comply with the recycling scheme.
“There is no question, the rollout has been diabolical,” John Barilaro told 2GB on Friday,
He said the contractors along with the EPA were responsible “for what is a botched rollout.”
The state government originally planned to roll out 800 reverse vending machines across 500 collection points.
According to the online Return and Earn map, only 45 reverse vending machines are ready, alongside 237 over-the-counter collection points.
The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) called to delay the introduction of the “half-baked” scheme on the basis that the infrastructure is not in place to deliver the scheme.
AACS CEO Jeff Rogut said concerns raised by the convenience industry remain unaddressed, making a delay necessary.
“The simple fact is, the CDS is not in a position to commence in NSW. Retailers have recognised this, now some politicians do too. The scheme has no chance to succeed if it commences before the infrastructure and consumer education program is in place,” Rogut said.
“There are reports that some regional areas have no collection points accessible to members of the public, and most people don’t know the scheme is imminent, nor how to participate in it.
“What people will understand however is that prices will jump to cover beverage manufacturers’ increased costs to comply with the CDS, and in the absence of a proper education program, their frustration will be unfairly directed at retailers.
“The NSW Government must delay the introduction of the CDS until certainty around its operation is reached. Concerns around the transition timeframe for new label requirements, and the need to allow retailers time to sell through old stock, remain unaddressed.
“It is critical for consumers to understand how the scheme works and, importantly, that retailers are not collection points for refunds, before it goes live. This means education and this has yet to occur to a satisfactory degree.”
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