NSW Container Deposit Scheme Agreement extension

Cleanaway today celebrates the announcement that the TOMRA Cleanaway joint venture will continue in the role of Network Operator under the New South Wales Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), ‘Return and Earn’. The Network Operator Agreement has been extended for four years, ending in late 2026.

Since the commencement of the scheme in December 2017, NSW communities and businesses have returned over seven billion containers and significantly improved resource recovery and recycling rates across the state.

Before NSW introduced the ‘Return and Earn’ scheme, more than 160 million drink containers littered our streets, beaches, waterways, and parks. Drink container litter made up 44 per cent of the volume of litter in the state and cost more than $162 million a year to manage.

Cleanaway is proud to play a key role in delivering this enormously successful scheme. Increased recycling rates and good source separation resulting from the network design have supported significant value chain extension investments.

Cleanaway, with its joint venture partners PACT, Asahi Beverages and Coca Cola Europacific Partners have developed a PET plastic pelletising facility that turns used PET containers into recycled PET pellets that can be used to make new packaging. The NSW CDS provides a significant portion of the feedstock for this circular economy solution.

Cleanaway CEO and Managing Director, Mark Schubert said, “Our refreshed Blueprint 2030 strategy centres around delivering sustainable customer solutions and making a sustainable future possible together. We are pleased to be able to continue to deliver an efficient CDS Network Operator service to the NSW community through our joint venture partnership with TOMRA. We look forward to driving even higher recovery rates and greater community access to the scheme in the future.”

Under the extension agreement, TOMRA Cleanaway continues to be responsible for the NSW Container Deposit Scheme network of return points, including Reverse Vending Machines, over-the-counter drop offs and automated depots. The joint venture will also be responsible for recycling collected containers and ensuring this material is sent to appropriate destinations, such as the Circular Plastics Australia facility in Albury. TOMRA Cleanaway has also committed to greater community access to ‘Return and Earn’ by increasing the number of collection points across NSW.

Media
Mark Biddulph
Head of Corporate Affairs
Tel: +61 499 332 601
Email: mark.biddulph@cleanaway.com.au