A Communiqué by Australia’s Environment Ministers outlining a comprehensive long-term national waste strategy has been well received by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC). Meanwhile, the idea of a National Container Deposit System remains under review. The Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) strategy released yesterday welcomed the support and leadership of industry in reducing packaging waste and improving recycling rates across the nation. Under the new National... ...Read more »

A new recycling initiative was launched today at the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre in Queensland, marking the beginning of a national rollout that is expected to result in hundreds of tonnes of beverage packaging being diverted away from landfill. The combined industry and government initiative, which will see improved recycling infrastructure and signage in food courts and more efficient back-of-house management systems, has been led by the Packaging Stewardship Forum (PSF) of the Australian Food... ...Read more »

An Australia-wide drink container deposit system is being considered by the Federal Government, with Family First and the Greens both pushing for legislation similar to that seen in South Australia. The idea involves adding a 10c levy to packaged beverages, which can be recovered by consumers when they recycle it. The leading representative of food and beverage manufacturers, the Australian Food and Grocery Council, is against the push, claiming it could cost Australians almost $500 million a year... ...Read more »

Australian Food and Grocery Council Chief Executive, Kate Carnell, has said today it was disappointing that high profile members of the community were still calling for ‘costly, outdated 1970s solutions to 2009 challenges’. She was responding to continued calls from Clean Up Australia Chairman Ian Kiernan for governments to introduce container deposit legislation ahead of a Ministerial Beverage Container Investigation due in May this year. Ms Carnell said that introducing container deposit... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council, Australia’s peak food and grocery manufacturing representative body, has welcomed recognition from the nation’s Environment Ministers that the National Packaging Covenant has played a significant role in increasing consumer packaging recycling rates by 16 per cent over the past three years. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said it was pleasing to see last week’s meeting of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council acknowledge the success... ...Read more »