This project's final report and evaluation was completed on 1 February 2021

Project approach

During consultation with the LGA membership and the waste industry as part of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) review of the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) anecdotal evidence surfaced indicating that glass (particularly wine bottles) in yellow kerbside commingled recycling bins can be problematic and costly for councils. This material was identified as causing additional cost to councils as it is heavy and when crushed it contaminates other recoverable materials in the bin, reducing the value of these materials.

The LGA engaged an environmental consultant to quantify this anecdotal evidence by developing an economic modelling tool and economic analysis report informed by:

• existing waste audits
• undertaking additional waste audits
• interviewing and consulting with key industry stakeholders.

Project achievements

This project produced a clear evidence base that quantifies and demonstrates the benefits to kerbside recycling of the inclusion of wine bottles in the CDS.

Project outputs and outcomes

1. Economic modelling tool; and
2. Economic analysis report.

The above outputs were informed by existing and the commission of new waste audit reports, publicly available information and consultation and interviews with key stakeholders. The economic analysis report has been shared with the state government, in alignment with the EPA and LGA’s sector-level agreement, to support the EPA in its review of the CDS.

This report quantifies the average weight of wine bottles in kerbside commingled recycling and the average cost to councils. This report clearly demonstrates the potential benefits that the inclusion of wine bottles in the CDS could have in increasing material recovery rates of “clean” glass, reducing contamination in the kerbside co-mingled bin and therefore increasing the recoverability of other materials collected through the yellow bin.

Project distribution

The key messages from this report will be made available for the LGA membership on the LGA website.

Performance measures

The project delivered the identified project deliverables, being the economic modelling tool and economic analysis report on budget.

Project impact

This project presents significant and timely evidentiary support for local government advocacy in relation to the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS). Waste audits do not generally focus on specific material streams, like wine bottles, and previously there was only anecdotal evidence from industry and councils of the impact and costs wine bottles and other glass materials have on kerbside commingled recycling. Having a clear evidence base strengthens the sectors advocacy position. The impact of this could result in significant cost savings for councils and improve high-value recovery of glass in South Australia.