Beverage Containers

In April 2008, EPHC agreed to conduct an assessment of potential options for national measures, including container deposit legislation, to address resource efficiency, environmental impacts, and the reduction of litter from packaging wastes such as beverage containers.

At its meeting on 22 May 2009, the EPHC considered a report entitled Beverage Container Investigation – Final Report. The report provided an assessment of potential options for national measures, including container deposit legislation, to address resource efficiency, environmental impacts and the reduction of litter from packaging wastes such as beverage containers.

The EPHC agreed to conduct a community attitudes survey on preparedness to pay for a container deposit scheme. The EPHC will then consider whether to progress to a full regulatory impact statement with the benefit of this work. The EPHC agreed that the work on the National Packaging Covenant would be strengthened to include additional focus on workplace and public place recycling and litter reduction programs.

The Beverage Container Investigation Report, peer review, consultants’ response to the peer review and a covering statement from the Beverage Container Working Group are available below.