Exchange for Change (EFC) has introduced long-term fixed pricing per material type for supplier contributions that fund the ACT Container Deposit Scheme, effective from February 2022.
According to EFC CEO, Danielle Smalley the move provides price stability, which helps beverage suppliers and is the final stage in the transition to a simplified supplier contribution approach for the ACT scheme.
“The introduction of the new approach and long-term fixed pricing is part of our commitment to making it easier for suppliers to participate in the ACT scheme,” Smalley said.
“We know from consultation with the beverage industry and individual suppliers that month-to-month pricing and the fluctuations experienced in the ACT can be challenging.
“This final step will provide greater stability in pricing and enable suppliers to better predict their monthly contributions which will be based on a fixed price and their actual supply volumes.”
Under the ACT scheme, beverage suppliers will pay a fixed price per material type. The new weighted average price will be 12.23c (excluding GST) from February to July 2022. The change will also see the ACT scheme align with other container deposit schemes around Australia.
Smalley added: “We understand pricing certainty and stability is important to suppliers and we aim to introduce a 12-month fixed price by material type once conditions become more predictable post COVID.
“Many beverage suppliers are contributing to multiple schemes across the country and we are constantly looking for opportunities to make it easier for suppliers by creating greater alignment between schemes.
“We’ve already seen an incredible 255.7 million containers returned through the ACT scheme since it launched more than three years ago up until the end of June 2021, resulting in less containers ending up as litter and landfill and more than $5.5 million in refunds back in the hands of the community. This result has been made possible because of the contribution and support of the beverage industry.”
New ACT CDS supplier contribution pricing by material type:
| Material type | Future pricing (cents) – (Feb-22 to Jul-22) |
| Glass | 13.72 |
| PET | 10.76 |
| HDPE | 6.10 |
| Aluminium | 14.23 |
| Liquid paperboard | 4.55 |
| Steel | 3.69 |
| Other plastics | 1.69 |
| Other materials | 1.63 |
| Weighted average | 12.23 |