James Boag's Brewery has claimed that the government's chosen container deposit scheme model could result in "higher than necessary beer prices" in Tasmania.
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During budget estimates last week, Environment Department manager of waste initiatives Darryl Cook outlined how the proposed scheme would cost about 16 cents per container, consisting of 10 cents for the consumer refund, and six cents to process each container.
Beverage companies would have a "liability" for the cost of running the scheme, which the government plans to implement by the end of 2022 at minimal cost to itself.
Tasmania's chosen "split-responsibility" model - similar to the scheme in New South Wales - involves a scheme co-ordinator who makes sure beverage companies have paid their contribution, and a private waste company as the network operator.
Under a model proposed by Boag's parent company Lion with Coca Cola Amatil in their joint venture TasRecycle, the scheme co-ordinator would be a "not-for-profit" organisation that distributes funds to charities.
James Boag's manager Nathan Calman said the companies maintained that their model would better benefit "consumers and the environment".
"There is no doubt the 'for-profit' model proposed by the Tasmanian Government will see higher than necessary beer prices for customers in Tassie," he said.
"The government have chosen a for-profit, monopoly model that props up the waste industry, which constitutes a new tax that will impact beer drinkers through unnecessary, higher scheme costs."
Comparing prices for a 30-block of XXXX cans on the Dan Murphy's website, the price was $43.90 in Tasmania and Victoria, but $46.90 in New South Wales where a similar scheme operates.
The government chose its model believing it would be the most efficient way for a container deposit scheme to operate in Tasmania.
Environment Minister Roger Jaensch said Tasmanians were already contributing to the cost of other states' schemes via drink prices, given most beverage companies sell their products nationwide.
He said the scheme co-ordinator would have a "heavy involvement" in the beverage industry, which he believed would guarantee efficiency of the scheme, while a network operator with a profit motive would give an incentive to ensure all containers were returned.
Mr Jaensch said their model meant charities could be collection points for cans, which occurs in NSW.
"Also in operation in other states - and we will see these if they come through in the proposals when we go to tender - are models where at a refund point, someone who is bringing their containers can opt to direct their refund to a charity or community organisation of their choice," he said.
"They can either donate their container or they can donate the refund at the point of refund.
"Some charity organisations have the scale and organisation to enter into contracts with network operators to be a refund point themselves, where they will be a place people can bring their containers, they can provide the refund to the person delivering it, and receive a fee for the work they do in operating that refund point."
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