(a) The volume of beverage cans, always dominant and unsightly, rapidly decreased in the litter stream as the containers became a valuable resource.

(b) Local brewers (and one major interstate brewer) using 375 ml non-refillable glass 'stubbies' replaced their bottles in favour of the highly successful 375 ml refillable glass 'echo' bottle. This had the effect of preserving valuable landfill space for future use and strengthened the existing returnable refillable bottle system. In 1989 about 98% of beer sold in South Australia was in refillable bottles.

Note:

In 1990 a determination by the High Court of Australia brought about significant changes to the Beverage Container Act replacing the legislative preference for refillable bottles, with a more equitable system.

(c) Further employment opportunities were created with the expansion of the existing 'Marine Store Dealer' network of bottle agents.

Due to the success of container deposit legislation in South Australia, resource recovery and re-use have been achieved far beyond the extent originally envisaged. The vast majority of deposit glass, aluminium and plastic beverage containers which previously ended up in litter or landfill are now returned for refilling, culleting or reprocessing.

Return Rates for Beverage Containers in South Australia

In South Australia it is generally agreed by the recycling industry that the following return rates are currently being achieved for deposit beverage containers-

* Glass 83%

* Plastic (PET, PVC etc) 70%

* Aluminium 82%

* Industry sources March 1997

According to the Aluminium Can Group, in November 1991, the national average for the return of cans was 62.9%. Similarly, Industries Commission Report No 6 (February 1991) revealed that the national average for the return of PET at the time was 3%. This gives further credence to the success of CDL in SA which, from a beverage container recycling perspective, has consistently out-performed other states for the past twenty years. ...2/-

Survey Conducted by	Effective in Reducing Litter	Support the Idea of Refundable Deposits on Beverage Containers
Flinders University, SA (1981)	72%	Not canvassed
Adelaide Royal Show (Sep 1993)	78%	94.5%
Tan Research (Nov 1993)	92%	95%

These surveys also reveal firm support for extension of the legislation to embrace additional beverage containers for such products as non-carbonated soft drinks, flavoured milk, wine bottles, plastic containers (cordial etc) and even food product bottles/jars.

It is not considered an overstatement to suggest that South Australians are proud of the achievements attained through the benefits of container deposit legislation and have an firm ongoing commitment to it.

On a national level the beverage industry continues to actively lobby against widespread implementation of container deposit legislation. For example, the report, Container Deposit Legislation and the Control of Litter and Waste, (Business Regulation Review Unit, June 1989) has been cited as a reason not to implement deposit legislation. However according to the Centre for South Australian Economic Studies (an independent organisation of Adelaide and Flinders Universities) many of the conclusions of this report are questionable on the basis of the data alone. The Centre also found that the report focus on the high cost and price impact of container deposit legislation was largely unsupported by either overseas experience or by hard local evidence.

In concluding, the Centre stated, "there is no doubt that the direction of change of attitudes in recent years makes it more and more likely that CDL is economically efficient even in the narrow sense. Taking a broader perspective it is very probably already efficient though this does not mean that we should feel completely wedded to CDL in precisely its present form and scope".

In addition to local support it has often been remarked by interstate and international visitors that South Australia is the cleanest state in Australia. Shires, councils, conservation groups, state governments and other interested interstate parties often seek an explanation as to the success of the legislation and how it might be implemented to achieve similar effect.

Despite much industry criticisms, container deposit legislation in South Australia continues to enjoy an overwhelming measure of support from the community. South Australians perceive that the legislation provides not only a valuable resource recovery system and a clean environment but at comparable beverage prices to those charged throughout the rest of Australia.

...3/-