FED up with rubbish build-up and a lack of sales spin-off, supermarket owner Bob Mathews is planning to dump the bottle and can return machine at his Springdale Heights supermarket.
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The IGA affiliate has grown tired of problems with the machine in his car park and has told operator Tomra Cleanaway he plants to end their contract.
“I don’t think it’s done my business any good at all,” Mr Mathews said.
“People don’t buy when they come in, we’re actually offering people a five per cent discount if they happen to use their vouchers.
“It’s lowered the tone of the place in some ways, the mess out there is not good.
“I know of people who won’t shop here at the moment because they get nervous about coming in.
“It’s done no good to my business whatsoever.”
Mr Mathews said he would not immediately cut ties with Tomra Cleanaway after his contract ends on January 31 because there would be a “riot” if he shut the machine without others emerging.
However, he said he was told by an Albury Council representative that plans were afoot for units to open at Thurgoona and South Albury and if they did he would end his involvement.
The EPA told The Border Mail there were no plans for machines in South Albury or Thurgoona.
The spokeswoman said Tomra Cleanaway had no formal notice of Mr Mathews’ intention, adding “if it does receive notification then the request will be processed”.
She defended the maintenance of the Springdale Heights site saying it “is cleaned three times daily and a cardboard bin was installed last month to address the issue of cardboard litter”.
Mr Mathews made his comments at a media conference with NSW Small Business Commissioner Robyn Hobbs on Tuesday morning.
The government appointee was at the start of a two-day tour of drink retailers from Albury to Mulwala to discuss the working of the container deposit scheme.
Ms Hobbs said it was clear problems with the machines needed to be addressed in consultation with Tomra Cleanaway and overseer, the NSW Environment Protection Authority.
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“We need to look at the frequency times that the machines are cleaned, we need to look at the frequency times that the machines actually operate,” Ms Hobbs said.
“Are there actually recycling bins to take the packaging?”
Meanwhile, Ms Hobbs would like Victoria to join all other mainland states in adopting a 10-cent container return scheme.
“We’re hoping now that the Victorian government elections have been settled that we can effectively engage with Victoria and remove this inconsistency,” she said.
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