Environment Protection (Beverage Container Deposit Scheme) Amendment Bill 2024

Have your say on the draft Environment Protection (Beverage Container Deposit Scheme) Amendment Bill 2024.

What's being decided?

We are proposing reforms to modernise South Australia’s beverage container deposit scheme (CDS) via the draft Environment Protection (Beverage Container Deposit Scheme) Amendment Bill 2024. Proposed reforms focus on scheme governance and system modernisation.

Your feedback will help refine the draft legislation to ensure CDS governance reform objectives can be achieved.

This reform will not change what containers are eligible for a 10-cent refund.

Background

In 1977, South Australia led the way with the first CDS in Australia. Now, we are on track to have a CDS in each state and territory.

The success of the CDS to date has been made possible by a highly engaged South Australian community and the many businesses involved in container recovery and recycling, including beverage producers, suppliers and retailers, and non-government organisations. Despite the success of the scheme in reducing litter and waste, much needs to be done behind the scenes to modernise the governance of Australia’s oldest CDS, noting it no longer meets the expectations of a modern extended producer responsibility scheme.

Proposed reforms to modernise the CDS have been shaped through consultation with CDS participants, industry, and community stakeholders, including feedback received on the 2021 Discussion Paper, which outlined reform opportunities for SA’s CDS, and a 2019 Scoping Paper.

Proposed reforms in the draft Environment Protection (Beverage Container Deposit Scheme) Amendment Bill 2024 set out:

• Updated objectives and features of the CDS that build upon the scheme’s success in reducing litter and waste.
• The appointment and functions of a not-for-profit scheme coordinator who would be responsible for the administration, management, and proper operation of the scheme.
• Clear roles and responsibilities for the scheme coordinator including around contract arrangements with scheme participants, scheme cost-setting practices, performance targets, customer service standards, and IT-based payment, auditing, and reporting requirements.
• A framework to recognise eligible material recovery facilities in the scheme.
• A scheme price review mechanism for the Essential Services Commission of South Australia.
• Clear roles for government oversight and Environment Protection Authority fee reform.
• Transitional provisions including a process to be followed to bring existing collection depots into a reformed scheme.

The modernisation of CDS governance is expected to unlock unrealised value in SA’s circular economy, remove barriers to expanding community participation and lay the foundations to position SA for the three proposed elements of national harmonisation.

This consultation is open for an eight-week period.

Get involved

Find out more:

• read the Draft Bill – Environment Protection (Beverage Container Deposit Scheme) Amendment Bill 2024
• Explanatory Guide to the Draft Bill
• What the changes mean:
  1. For beverage suppliers
  2. For collection depots
  3. For material recovery facilities
  4. For donation partners
  5. For customers
  6. For super collectors
• Proposed CDS governance infographic
• take a look at our FAQs

Have your say by:

• register for an upcoming forum
• email a submission to epainfo@sa.gov.au (Subject ”CDS Draft Amendment Bill”. Ensure you refer to specific sections of the Bill in your submission)
• posting your written submission to:
  CDS Draft Amendment Bill
  Environment Protection Authority
  GPO Box 2607
  Adelaide SA 5001

What are the next steps?

• We will consider your feedback to refine the draft Environment Protection (Beverage Container Deposit Scheme) Amendment Bill 2024.
• We will share a feedback summary here.
• The draft Bill would then require introduction to and consideration by the South Australia Parliament.