The Return and Earn container deposit scheme kicks into action in New South Wales on December 1 – but Cessnock residents will have to drive almost an hour to take advantage of it.
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The scheme aims to help reduce litter in NSW by 40 per cent by 2020.
It will entitle consumers to a 10-cent refund on every returned can or bottle (with the price of cans and bottles to increase by approximately 10 cents).
Cessnock MP Clayton Barr has accused the government of botching the rollout of the scheme.
He said environment minister Gabrielle Upton promised that 85 percent of more than 500 collection sites would up and running by December 1 – but this has since been downgraded to suggest that only “a majority” of collection points may be in place by the start date.
“Now it looks like the government won’t deliver on anywhere near that amount, with the minister refusing to provide anyone with a confirmed list of collection points,” Mr Barr said.
“With just days remaining until the start of the scheme, the people of the Cessnock Electorate are still in the dark about where they will be able to take their empty containers for a 10-cent refund.
“Minister Upton has managed to turn a positive idea into a complete farce.
“People are knocking down my door asking for information about returning their containers because they can’t get anything out of this clueless government.
“With Christmas around the corner, this uncertainty is unacceptable.
“My community just wants to know – where can I take my cans and bottles for a refund?”
A spokesperson for Ms Upton’s office said the rollout is a massive logistical exercise, and that sites will continue to rollout and will be announced as they are finalised.
Collection points will include reverse vending machines, cafes and service stations.
Containers make up 44 per cent of all litter in NSW.
The Environment Protection Authority estimates that around 300 million containers a month will be recovered by the scheme.