Questions and Answers
Questions and Answers
Cash for Containers – Questions and Answers
Q: When did Cash for Containers start?
A: Cash for Containers commenced across the Territory on 3 January 2012.
Q. Will Territorians pay more for beverages?
A: Prices remained the same in South Australia where the scheme has worked for 35 years.
The beverage industry makes commercial decisions about the pricing of their products that are affected by many different factors.
Territorians are encouraged to shop around for best prices. If you have questions about a price increase on containers as a result of the Cash for Containers scheme and feel that a retailer is providing misleading and/or deceptive statements about why the cost of a beverage has increased under the scheme please contact Consumer Affairs on 1800 019 319 or visit www.nt.gov.au/justice/consaffairs.
Q: How much will the deposit be on each eligible container?
A: The deposit will be 10 cents per eligible container, the same as South Australia.
Q: What containers can I get a refund on?
A: Consistent with the South Australia approach, the following cans, bottles and cartons are eligible:
- Containers less than one litre:
Flavoured milks, fruit juices
- Containers up to and including three litres:
Soft drinks; water (still and sparkling); sport drinks; vitamin drinks; iced teas; beer / ales / stouts / cider; alcoholic sodas; spirit-based beverages; some wine-based beverages.
Eligible containers will have an NT, SA/NT or SA refund label.
Q. Why are some eligible containers less than 1 litre, others are less than 3 litres and wine bottles are excluded?
A: The containers covered in Cash for Containers have been strictly aligned with the same containers in the South Australian scheme, which has been operating for over 30 years. This decision was taken to reduce cross-border issues and to minimise start up costs for industry participants in the scheme.
The Territory Government recognises that there are some anomalies in the containers subject to the scheme and the legislation establishing Cash for Containers includes a review within the first two years of operation. This review along with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with
South Australia will assist in resolving these anomalies and improving the scheme over time.
Q: Where will people be able to redeem deposits?
A: Territorians need to return eligible containers to a collection depot to get their 10 cent refund.
More Collection Depots and Donation Collection Points are coming on line every week, with mobile and community based reverse vending machines (RVMs) coming soon to service remote areas.
Go to www.greeningnt.nt.gov.au or call us on 1800 752 632 for more information or to locate your nearest collection depot.
Q. Why can’t I crush my cans?
A: Collection Depots need to clearly identify the approved labels and the beverage supplier and some depots will need to be able to scan barcodes, and particular items need to be verified and separated. This is to ensure that the depots take the containers to the correct CDS coordinator.
Q. Do I need to show ID, provide an ABN number when I refund my eligible containers?
A. No. You are not required to show ID when cashing in your eligible containers. An ABN number is not required either.
Q. Are Collection Depots allowed to photograph my registration?
A: No. There is no requirement under the legislation for your car registration number to be photographed when getting your refund. If you have any concerns, contact the Cash for Containers information line on 1800 752 632 during business hours.
Q. Do I have to fill in a form to cash in my eligible containers?
A: A statutory declaration only needs to be filled out when bringing in more than 500 eligible containers or if the Collection Depot suspects that some containers may have been purchased either before the 3 January 2012 or somewhere other than the NT. This is to ensure the containers were purchased in the NT after the scheme commenced on 3 January 2012.
Q: Can community groups collect drink containers too?
A: Yes, this is a great opportunity for community groups, sporting clubs and schools to raise money.
You can use Cash for Containers to raise extra funds at your next sausage sizzle, or consider a “bottle drive” where people can donate their empties at your Donation Collection Point. No matter what your circumstances, with a bit of planning you can maximise the fundraising opportunities offered by Cash for Containers.
Q. What is a Donation Collection Point?
A: A Donation Collection Point is where the community can choose to donate eligible containers without receiving a refund in return. For example, your school or sporting club might set up a Donation Collection Point and instead of cashing in your own containers you drop them at the Donation Collection Point, making a 10 cent donation.
The funds raised are returned to the community rather than an individual.
Q: Can I get a refund on containers purchased before the commencement date?
A: No. Deposits will only be paid on eligible containers purchased in the Northern Territory after 3 January 2012. It is an offence under the Act to present containers purchased before scheme commencement to depots for claiming a refund.
Q: What impact will Cash for Containers have?
A: Cash for Containers will help reduce the amount of litter in our environment. By increasing the number of beverage containers collected it will also increase recycling of plastics, glass, aluminium and liquid paperboard. Along with the plastic bag ban and other Territory Government initiatives, Cash for Containers will contribute to a 50% reduction in the amount of rubbish going to landfill.
Q: Is the scheme the same as South Australia’s?
A: The Northern Territory scheme has been modelled on South Australia’s but with some changes to make the NT Cash for Containers scheme more efficient.
Q: Why not go further to include other beverage products or other containers?
A: The NT scheme will begin with the same types of eligible beverages and containers as South Australia. However, in consultation with affected industry and South Australia it is our intention to review and possibly expand the range of eligible products over time.
Q: Didn’t we already have recycling in the Territory?
A: The Northern Territory has a limited collection system for recyclables. This scheme provides a unique opportunity to significantly expand recycling in the Territory and the government is looking to support new industries in this area.
Q: Why did it take so long to implement?
A: This is a complex scheme, and the Territory is the first jurisdiction to establish a scheme in 35 years. The Territory Government has taken the time to implement a Cash for Containers scheme that is legally, financially and regionally viable.
Q: What is Government’s role?
A: The Territory Government is responsible for creating the ‘architecture’ that establishes the scheme. This includes developing the legislation and regulations that underpin the scheme, facilitating development of scheme principles, facilitating industry uptake, and enforcement of scheme compliance.
Q: Will it destroy kerbside recycling?
A: No, South Australia has kerbside recycling and runs a successful container deposit scheme. Due to the range of containers targeted by the scheme there will be still be a need for kerbside recycling to manage other recyclables generated in the home. Furthermore, kerbside recycling only exists for residents of Darwin and Palmerston. Cash for Containers provides an incentive and means for recycling drink containers that previously didn’t exist for many Territorians.
Q: What will be the impact on shops?
A: Shops that sell drinks will not be obliged to take back empty drink containers or redeem deposits. There will be opportunities for shops to offer collection services or larger stores to offer reverse vending machines, should they choose to do so.
Q: Isn’t there a better solution to solve the litter problem?
A: There are a large number of reports for and against introducing a Cash for Containers scheme. The Territory Government has based its decision on what South Australia and other jurisdictions around the world have actually achieved with similar container deposit schemes. These types of schemes get real results and clean up litter better than any other program. Both within Australia and internationally other jurisdictions are also working through the steps to introduce similar schemes in their local areas.
Q: Aren’t bottles and cans only a small proportion of litter?
A: Bottles and cans make up a large volume of our litter. In other states of Australia, beverage containers typically contribute between 20% - 50% of litter by volume – in South Australia it contributes less than 10% by volume. The Cash for Containers scheme is not going to fix all our litter problems, but is very effective tool for litter abatement – the results in South Australia clearly show this.
Q. How does Cash for Containers differ from industry product stewardship programs?
A: Stewardship programs do not provide an incentive for Territorians to recycle and reduce litter, unlike the Cash for Containers scheme which provides a 10 cent deposit for each eligible container collected. There is also no guarantee that stewardship programs will last long term or ripple out to regions and remote communities, which is fundamental to the Cash for Containers scheme.
Q: Will there be a national Container Deposit scheme?
A: Ideally a Container Deposit Scheme would be implemented nationally and the Territory Government has long argued for this. But national progress has been very slow and may not eventuate. As a result, the Territory Government is taking the lead. The Territory will now be in a better position to influence any future national consideration and believes other jurisdictions will follow.