Today’s announcement by NSW and South Australia that their container refund schemes (CRS) will be expanded to include wine and spirit bottles and larger drink containers, is a significant step for the successful circular economy scheme, the Boomerang Alliance of 56 NGOs said today.

“Consumers have wanted this for a long time and it will be warmly welcomed by them as well as recyclers, collectors and charities. The CRS has set a benchmark for other appropriate products like e-waste and we look forward to leading states like NSW and SA pursuing other opportunities,” said Jeff Angel, Director of the Alliance. “We do call on the wine industry to embrace this opportunity to be part of the refund scheme and to avoid an uncooperative and negative response. It’s been clear to us and policy makers that their initial concerns lack substance. The key focus should be on transition and where necessary, assisting small businesses to adjust.”

“We would have preferred the implementation date for the expansion to be earlier than mid-2027, as demonstrated by Queensland’s shorter transition plan on its earlier move on including wine – and would urge a faster timetable by NSW and SA, if possible,” Mr Angel said.

“The sooner we get the wine and spirit glass bottles and the larger containers into the circular economy stream achieving waste bottle back to new bottle, the better for the environment. We also understand that WA will move next, leaving just Victoria and Tasmania to act.”

For more information: Jeff Angel, Director, Boomerang Alliance, info@boomerangalliance.org.au