The supplier contributions that find the NSW Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), Return and Earn, will be frozen for six months, according to scheme coordinator Exchange for Change (EfC).
In February this year the NSW CDS moved to a fixed price by material type and EfC CEO Danielle Smalley said the decision to freeze the current price recognises the difficult and uncertain economic environment.
“We know this year has been particularly challenging for the beverage industry. Maintaining pricing per material type will help industry to maintain their own pricing stability and also provide certainty of scheme pricing until at least July 2021,” Smalley said.
Under the NSW scheme, beverage suppliers paid a weighted average price of 12.68c (excluding GST) per eligible drink container they supply into NSW during FY2019-20. The supplier contributions fund the scheme, including the container refunds paid to the public and the scheme’s operating costs, in a closed financial loop.
The six-month price freeze is the latest measure implemented to support suppliers impacted by COVID-19.
Other measures include the introduction of the new Small Supplier Program enabling small suppliers to apply to move to quarterly invoicing instead of monthly; and NSW EPA’s temporary removal of the $13.70 container approval application fee for small suppliers registering new containers, recently extended to 25 March 2021.
Smalley added: “At EfC, we’re committed to working closely with beverage suppliers impacted by COVID. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact us to discuss what options might be available.”
To date over 4.2 billion containers have been returned through the NSW CDS and the supplier price freeze does not impact the 10c refund consumers receive for each eligible container returned.