Exchange for Change, the scheme organisers of the container deposit schemes in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, have updated container prices.

In ACT, prices have remain fixed for an additional six months, after transitioning to a fixed price by material type in February this year.

Exchange for Change CEO Danielle Smalley said that the fixed price for the next six months in ACT “reflects EfC’s commitment to maintaining long-term pricing certainty and stability for beverage suppliers”.

However, this did not appear to be the case in NSW where price rises are being introduced.

“We understand pricing certainty and stability is important to suppliers and we aim to return to a 12-month fixed price by material type once economic conditions become more predictable,” Smalley said.

Media release from the ACT Exchange for Change scheme organisers

Exchange for Change (EfC) today announced it will hold the current fixed price per material type for supplier contributions that fund the ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) for an additional six months, effective for invoices issued from August 2022.

The ACT scheme transitioned to a fixed price by material type in February this year.

Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change, said the decision to maintain the current fixed price for another six months reflects EfC’s commitment to maintaining long-term pricing certainty and stability for beverage suppliers.

“We hope today’s announcement of no change to the current supplier contribution pricing for the ACT scheme will help the beverage industry to maintain their own pricing stability in what is still an uncertain economic environment.

“Our aim remains to introduce a 12-month fixed price by material type once conditions are more predictable,” Ms Smalley said.

Under the ACT scheme, beverage suppliers pay a fixed price per material type. The weighted average price per eligible drink container they supply into ACT will remain 12.23c (excluding GST) for invoices issued in the six-month period from August 2022 to January 2023 (inclusive).

The scheme operates on a cost-recovery basis with supplier contribution pricing calculated based on extensive modelling using more than three years of scheme supply and redemption trend data, consultation with the beverage industry, and consumer research to understand likely future participation.

“The ACT Container Deposit Scheme continues to go from strength to strength with 63 per cent of ACT residents having participated, resulting in more than 300 million drink containers returned for recycling since it launched in June 2018.

“The ACT scheme also has one of the highest redemption rates in the country, with the latest 12-month rolling redemption rate 75 per cent. That’s three in every four drink containers supplied into ACT being redeemed through the scheme,” Ms Smalley added.

For more information about the ACT scheme, how it operates and current pricing by material type, visit www.exchangeforchange.com.au.

ACT CDS supplier contribution pricing by material type:

Media release from Exchange for Change in NSW

Exchange for Change (EfC) today announced the new fixed price per material type for supplier contributions that fund the Return and Earn NSW container deposit scheme, effective for six months for invoices issued from August 2022.

Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change, said six-month pricing was set because of ongoing uncertainty.

“We understand pricing certainty and stability is important to suppliers and we aim to return to a 12-month fixed price by material type once economic conditions become more predictable,” Ms Smalley said.

Under the NSW scheme, beverage suppliers pay a fixed price per material type. The current weighted average price per eligible drink container they supply into NSW for the six-month period from February to July 2022 is 10.61c (excluding GST).

From August 2022, the new weighted average price (excluding GST) per eligible container will be 11.71c.

The change in pricing reflects a return to more normal redemption patterns following the reopening of return points in Greater Sydney in September last year.

“The NSW scheme operates on a cost-recovery basis and the current pricing, announced last October, reflected the drop in redemptions,” Ms Smalley said.

“Today however, return rates are starting to recover. The new weighted average price has increased by 1c to ensure sufficient funds to meet forecast scheme costs during the pricing period,” Ms Smalley added.

The pricing for invoices issued from August 2022 to January 2023 was developed following extensive modelling which reviewed more than four years of scheme supply and redemption trend data, consultation with the beverage industry, and consumer research to understand community redemption behaviour.

Return and Earn continues to deliver strong environmental, community and economic benefits to the NSW community with more than 7 billion containers returned for recycling through its 620-strong return point network across the state to-date.

Participation is high with 78 per cent of NSW residents having participated, while more than $30 million has been returned through the scheme to charities and not-for-profits via donations and fees from hosting return points.

For more information about the NSW scheme, how it operates and current pricing by material type, visit www.exchangeforchange.com.au.

New NSW CDS supplier contribution pricing by material type: