It's welcome news that plans are afoot for Victoria to introduce a container deposit scheme.
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It's been a frustration for operators on the Albury side of the Murray ever since the cash-for-cans-and-bottles scheme was introduced in NSW in 2017 that Victorians could buy beverages cheaper south of the Border and then score a refund by crossing the river.
While there was a positive response from The Border Mail readers, vendors and politicians to the scheme being introduced, there was one recurring question: why can't it be introduced before 2023?
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Environment group Boomerang Alliance, Farrer MP Sussan Ley and Albury IGA grocer Bob Mathews were among those to voice their concerns about a three-year wait to The Border Mail before the cash-for-cans scheme is implemented in Victoria.
Ms Ley posed the question to Victorian Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio "'what would it take to introduce the scheme earlier?' because I did look at it (2023) and was disappointed" with Alliance director Jeff Angel going a step further, saying "I think they could pass legislation this year, sort out the tenders and start at the end of 2021".
The Victorian government cited the need for consultation with industry and councils for the delay but if we look back at how the scheme was rolled out in NSW, it would appear that an earlier start date could be achievable.
Former NSW premier Mike Baird committed to implementing the return and earn scheme if successful at the 2015 election and it was operational in the state by the end of 2017, meaning a two-year turnaround shouldn't be out of the picture.
Given Victoria is the last state to introduce the recycling measure in Australia, you can mount a strong case for an even quicker introduction, which would ease pressure on traders in NSW and help eradicate one thing from a very long list of border anomalies that we're all-too-familiar with.