NSW Government to introduce Cash For Containers!

Some great news out of NSW this week, NSW Environment Minister ‪Rob Stokes‬ confirmed NSW will adopt Cash For Containers!

Thousands of people have been working tirelessly for years to reach this goal, and now Rob Stokes has confirmed that in 3 months a drinks container deposit scheme is to be introduced in NSW.

While the details are still being finalised, ABC reports that the scheme likely to feature a rebate of 10 cents per item.

Environment Minister Rob Stokes has done NSW proud in the fight for Cash For Containers.

"The beverage industry obviously has a responsibility in terms of the extent of producer liability for their products," Mr Stokes told ABC .

"But we recognise that Government has a strong leadership role to play," he said.

"What we are interested in doing is working together effectively to produce solutions to a shared problem, which is litter and waste in our environment."

Congratulations and thank you also to Mike Braid, NSW Premier, who last week wrote to the big beverage industries asking them to support the initiative. The Sydney Morning Herald shared an excerpt of the letter from Braid in which he explains: "the NSW government favours the introduction of a state-based container deposit scheme".

The main aim of the scheme is to reduce glass and plastic bottles littering our beaches, parks, waterways and public areas.

Jeff Angel, national convener of the Boomerang Alliance and friend of 1 Million Women told ABC : "With a 10 cent deposit you get well over 80 per cent of the drink bottles and cans returned for recycling. That's certainly the case in South Australia where we already have a 10 cent deposit that's refundable."

Sensational news! We'll keep you updated with more news on this scheme as it arrives.