Environment Ministers are considering expanding the Container Deposit Scheme to include full bottled spirits. Consultation is currently open in NSW and WA. QLD and ACT will begin public consultation soon. SA has already closed consultation.

Our members are concerned about the move by multiple states and territories to expand the scope of their respective container deposit schemes to include full-strength spirits bottles. Our members are firmly committed to the principles of environmental sustainability, resource recovery and the circular economy. Along with Spirits and Cocktails Australia, we have made a submission to the Federal Environment Minister along the lines that as both global and local industry stakeholders with strong links to agricultural inputs, our members and our customers embrace these principles as necessary to protect our environment and optimise the costs of manufacture. Our largest members have set strong global targets to reduce energy, water and waste, address climate change and biodiversity, commit to best practice land stewardship, and increase the use of recycled and recovered materials in our products.

Our members believe the ultimate objective of any scheme seeking to meet the objectives of a circular economy would be one which maximised the capture of available material that can be recycled – not just those from beverage containers. It seems to our members that a container deposit scheme that targets only beverage containers is incomplete and inefficient, where there are alternative solutions available that could capture recyclable materials from a broader range of products.

In our informal discussions with environment Ministers we have argued that spirit bottles do not feature in the litter chain, the cost to both administer, as well as valuable real estate on labels are of significant concern. We also note the CDS administers are predominantly run by soft drink and beer manufacturers.

The Australian Distillers Association has made and will continue to make submissions to the reviews.