ABCL has made a submission to the Queensland  Health, Environment and Innovation Committee on the Waste Reduction and Recycling (Strengthening the Container Refund Scheme) Amendment Bill 2026.

As the peak body for Australia’s non-alcoholic beverages industry and a funder of Queensland’s Container Refund Scheme (CRS), ABCL supports stronger governance, transparency and accountability, but cautions against changes that would shift the scheme away from an industry-led extended producer responsibility model.

ABCL does not support proposed provisions relating to Ministerial appointment of a “special manager”, approval of a Governance and Capital Investment Plan, or classifying the Producer Responsibility Organisation as a Unit of Public Administration.

The submission emphasises that improving recovery rates should focus on increasing consumer access and convenience, noting Queensland’s relatively low density of return points compared to leading international schemes. Key recommendations include expanding return point infrastructure (including Reverse Vending Machines), removing planning barriers, broadening collection in workplaces and multi-unit dwellings, and ensuring scheme funds are reinvested into recovery outcomes.

ABCL remains committed to working with government to strengthen the scheme in line with global best practice.