Well, as you heard on the show yesterday, the Northern Territory Government denounce the expanding of the Container Deposit scheme to include any ready to drink container of up to three leaders, including spirits and wine bottles. It will be a first for the Northern Territory, with the Minister for Lands Planning an Environment Joshua Burgoyne saying the expansion is a win for Territorians and indeed the environment with more eligible containers to maximize returns and cleaner public spaces. Now joining us on the line is Waste and Recycling Industry Association Northern Territory CEO Adam Gray. Good morning to.

Well, as you heard on the show yesterday, the Northern Territory Government denounce the expanding of the Container Deposit scheme to include any ready to drink container of up to three leaders, including spirits and wine bottles. It will be a first for the Northern Territory, with the Minister for Lands Planning an Environment Joshua Burgoyne saying the expansion is a win for Territorians and indeed the environment with more eligible containers to maximize returns and cleaner public spaces. Now joining us on the line is Waste and Recycling Industry Association Northern Territory CEO Adam Gray. Good morning to.

You, Adam, Good morning, how are you.

You, Adam, Good morning, how are you.

Ye're really good. Great to have you on the show. I mean, Adam, this seems like a great move, a very positive move. Is it a win from your perspective?

Ye're really good. Great to have you on the show. I mean, Adam, this seems like a great move, a very positive move. Is it a win from your perspective?

Yeah, Look, our industry is really supportive of the expansion of the CDs scheme in the Northern Territory. No, it's a hugely successful product steel chip arrangement. It's really well accepted by the community and it certainly helps our industry in resource recovery by removing things like glass from collection systems, which has a tendency to cause problems in recovery of other materials like paper and cardboard when it breaks. So we think this is a really positive move.

Yeah, Look, our industry is really supportive of the expansion of the CDs scheme in the Northern Territory. No, it's a hugely successful product steel chip arrangement. It's really well accepted by the community and it certainly helps our industry in resource recovery by removing things like glass from collection systems, which has a tendency to cause problems in recovery of other materials like paper and cardboard when it breaks. So we think this is a really positive move.

So what's your understanding of exactly what's going to be included as of I believe it'll be a little later this year once the legislation passes through parliament.

So what's your understanding of exactly what's going to be included as of I believe it'll be a little later this year once the legislation passes through parliament.

Look, the details sit with the Northern Territory government. We understand that there's an expansion of the scheme to include in particular wine and spirit bottles and bottles up to three leaders that are held. So yeah, really positive, really positive for the move, and it's really positive from the Northern Territory government perspective in the sense of national harmonization of container deposit schemes across the country. It can be quite challenging for our industry to manage different schemes and different requirements in different states. It's a lot of our members are nationally operating and so this brings Non Territory in line with some of our other national jurisdictions. And yeah, so it's quite a positive movement on the number of fronts.

Look, the details sit with the Northern Territory government. We understand that there's an expansion of the scheme to include in particular wine and spirit bottles and bottles up to three leaders that are held. So yeah, really positive, really positive for the move, and it's really positive from the Northern Territory government perspective in the sense of national harmonization of container deposit schemes across the country. It can be quite challenging for our industry to manage different schemes and different requirements in different states. It's a lot of our members are nationally operating and so this brings Non Territory in line with some of our other national jurisdictions. And yeah, so it's quite a positive movement on the number of fronts.

So obviously bringing us in line with those other jurisdictions. I mean, Adam, why why has it sort of taking it so long to get to this point where we are in line with other jurisdictions.

So obviously bringing us in line with those other jurisdictions. I mean, Adam, why why has it sort of taking it so long to get to this point where we are in line with other jurisdictions.

Yeah, well yeah, I'm bringing government to agencies from across the country. Can sometimes lead to a lot of complexity and negotiation. And we saw Queensland leap ahead with introduction of wine and spirit bottles ahead of the national harmonization approach. And we know that South Australia is still struggling to come to terms with lobbying from the wine industry in particular. So we're really positive that the Northern Territory government is also taking this step and we hope that gradually that momentum builds and brings the other other jurisdictions in line as well.

Yeah, well yeah, I'm bringing government to agencies from across the country. Can sometimes lead to a lot of complexity and negotiation. And we saw Queensland leap ahead with introduction of wine and spirit bottles ahead of the national harmonization approach. And we know that South Australia is still struggling to come to terms with lobbying from the wine industry in particular. So we're really positive that the Northern Territory government is also taking this step and we hope that gradually that momentum builds and brings the other other jurisdictions in line as well.

So in terms of what currently happens, I guess with those you know, with those wine bottles, with some of those other bigger bottles, even like the milk bottles, do they currently like do they just go to landfill? Now? What happens in the Northern Territory right now?

So in terms of what currently happens, I guess with those you know, with those wine bottles, with some of those other bigger bottles, even like the milk bottles, do they currently like do they just go to landfill? Now? What happens in the Northern Territory right now?

Look, there certainly is a lot of glass that ends up in landfill. However, the bulk of the CDs material glass is collected, it's taken through deposit scheme. Collection agencies the bulk of it is recovered. So we know that the redemption rate in the Northern Territory has been increasing year on year. It's now over eighty percent, which is really positive. So over eighty percent of bottles that are entered into the market are collected at the end through the CDs scheme and where they're going. The bulk of them are heading into State, most of them are heading down to South Australia and they are proceeds through Aurora, a glass recycling facility and put back into the economy as new bottles.

Look, there certainly is a lot of glass that ends up in landfill. However, the bulk of the CDs material glass is collected, it's taken through deposit scheme. Collection agencies the bulk of it is recovered. So we know that the redemption rate in the Northern Territory has been increasing year on year. It's now over eighty percent, which is really positive. So over eighty percent of bottles that are entered into the market are collected at the end through the CDs scheme and where they're going. The bulk of them are heading into State, most of them are heading down to South Australia and they are proceeds through Aurora, a glass recycling facility and put back into the economy as new bottles.

Adam, I mean, it's this sounds like it is a really good move. I know for a lot of our listeners, a lot of people will see this as a positive thing being able to you know, to take those different larger bottles obviously through the container deposit scheme. Is there other things that we could be doing in the Northern Territory at the moment to you know, to improve the ways in which we recycle and and to you know, to sort of improve even further.

Adam, I mean, it's this sounds like it is a really good move. I know for a lot of our listeners, a lot of people will see this as a positive thing being able to you know, to take those different larger bottles obviously through the container deposit scheme. Is there other things that we could be doing in the Northern Territory at the moment to you know, to improve the ways in which we recycle and and to you know, to sort of improve even further.

Yeah, absolutely so. Our industry has done a couple of really interesting pieces of work recently. So we've highlighted the economic benefit that the waste and resource recovery industry provides to the Northern Territory, and we've also provided some advice to the Northern Territory government about how we think it could move what is relatively a linear pathway for a lot of materials, where we buy them, we consume them, we put them into a bins, and the end up in landfill. We know that there are jobs to be created, there's economic benefits to come from resource recovery and recycling. And one of the biggest things that we think the industry has identified is every state and territory nationally places a levy on materials that are deposited into landfill, except for the Northern Territory. And it is a blunt instrument, but we know it works. It encourages investment and resource recovery. It encourages growth in jobs and market development with new businesses coming into the jurisdiction when we price the cost the true cost of throwing materials straight into landfill. So we've certainly presented that to government, and we're really interested in opening the dialogue not just with the government but the wider community about the benefits that pricing landfill will come.

Yeah, absolutely so. Our industry has done a couple of really interesting pieces of work recently. So we've highlighted the economic benefit that the waste and resource recovery industry provides to the Northern Territory, and we've also provided some advice to the Northern Territory government about how we think it could move what is relatively a linear pathway for a lot of materials, where we buy them, we consume them, we put them into a bins, and the end up in landfill. We know that there are jobs to be created, there's economic benefits to come from resource recovery and recycling. And one of the biggest things that we think the industry has identified is every state and territory nationally places a levy on materials that are deposited into landfill, except for the Northern Territory. And it is a blunt instrument, but we know it works. It encourages investment and resource recovery. It encourages growth in jobs and market development with new businesses coming into the jurisdiction when we price the cost the true cost of throwing materials straight into landfill. So we've certainly presented that to government, and we're really interested in opening the dialogue not just with the government but the wider community about the benefits that pricing landfill will come.

So Adam how would that work. So essentially then businesses would be footing any bill of anything that does need to go into landfill. Yeah.

So Adam how would that work. So essentially then businesses would be footing any bill of anything that does need to go into landfill. Yeah.

Look, so essentially how works is we you know, the market says, you know, the price of taking material to landfill increases, so why don't you look for alternatives? And this is where businesses will invest. They will know that the market is saying you are looking for an alternative pathway for that material, and they know what the price is, you know, to deposit in a landfill, and they will largely, you know, price themselves lower than that. And so all of a sudden you start to see industry investing in resource recovery opportunities because they know that there's a pathway for some of these materials. One of the key things that we need to work on are markets. So there's no point developing a resource recovery and recycling business unless you've got an access point for the product at the end of the day. So what are those markets? And so there's a bit of work to do around where are our most appropriate markets. And some of it is going to be into state, some of it is going to be overseas, but certainly some of those markets sit within the territory itself.

Look, so essentially how works is we you know, the market says, you know, the price of taking material to landfill increases, so why don't you look for alternatives? And this is where businesses will invest. They will know that the market is saying you are looking for an alternative pathway for that material, and they know what the price is, you know, to deposit in a landfill, and they will largely, you know, price themselves lower than that. And so all of a sudden you start to see industry investing in resource recovery opportunities because they know that there's a pathway for some of these materials. One of the key things that we need to work on are markets. So there's no point developing a resource recovery and recycling business unless you've got an access point for the product at the end of the day. So what are those markets? And so there's a bit of work to do around where are our most appropriate markets. And some of it is going to be into state, some of it is going to be overseas, but certainly some of those markets sit within the territory itself.

Look at how much it could potentially like the additional costs that it could be for you know, for a business or an organization. Do we have any idea what that might look like.

Look at how much it could potentially like the additional costs that it could be for you know, for a business or an organization. Do we have any idea what that might look like.

Look the design of a of a levee on landfill is, you know, is an intricate thing. The industry would certainly be suggesting a gentle entry, so you know which every jurisdiction has done. Start low, gradually build up the systems and practices and acceptance within community and businesses. We know that it's it's a very marginal increase for you know, curb side collections, so you know, your wastein that you present to the curb side from a residential perspective, and so it's a it's a minor it's a minor impost for what we know are significant gains. And we know that the gains are not just environmental, because throwing material and landfill was a real loss of you know, valuable products. But we also know that it's a real loss in economic value to the territory because we're not taking advantage of the new businesses and economic activity and jobs that a levy will will create because it has done so in every other jurisdiction in Australia.

Look the design of a of a levee on landfill is, you know, is an intricate thing. The industry would certainly be suggesting a gentle entry, so you know which every jurisdiction has done. Start low, gradually build up the systems and practices and acceptance within community and businesses. We know that it's it's a very marginal increase for you know, curb side collections, so you know, your wastein that you present to the curb side from a residential perspective, and so it's a it's a minor it's a minor impost for what we know are significant gains. And we know that the gains are not just environmental, because throwing material and landfill was a real loss of you know, valuable products. But we also know that it's a real loss in economic value to the territory because we're not taking advantage of the new businesses and economic activity and jobs that a levy will will create because it has done so in every other jurisdiction in Australia.

Adam, I can imagine that some listening this morning, certainly some of those businesses listening this morning might be thinking to themselves, oh my goodness, you know, this would be another cost, you know, to add on when we're already potentially doing it a bit tough. I mean, what would you say to those listening this morning that are maybe thinking that.

Adam, I can imagine that some listening this morning, certainly some of those businesses listening this morning might be thinking to themselves, oh my goodness, you know, this would be another cost, you know, to add on when we're already potentially doing it a bit tough. I mean, what would you say to those listening this morning that are maybe thinking that.

Look, what I would say is it's certainly not a cost that's guaranteed, because if you can avoid sending material to landfill, then you would certainly not be paying that cost. So and we would also say that, you know, generally we need to start valuing the true cost of putting materials into landfill and losing them from our economy. And our industry is about resource recovery and value adding. We have moved largely beyond the conversation about the environmental benefits of waste and resource recovery management because our industry does a really good job of pulling out materials when there's value to it. But we need to create we need to be better at creating that value proposition. So I would be saying to businesses, you can avoid the cost. We just need to find a better way and a better pathway for a lot of these materials that we're simply just throwing into landfill.

Look, what I would say is it's certainly not a cost that's guaranteed, because if you can avoid sending material to landfill, then you would certainly not be paying that cost. So and we would also say that, you know, generally we need to start valuing the true cost of putting materials into landfill and losing them from our economy. And our industry is about resource recovery and value adding. We have moved largely beyond the conversation about the environmental benefits of waste and resource recovery management because our industry does a really good job of pulling out materials when there's value to it. But we need to create we need to be better at creating that value proposition. So I would be saying to businesses, you can avoid the cost. We just need to find a better way and a better pathway for a lot of these materials that we're simply just throwing into landfill.

Well, Adam Gray, really good to speak with you this morning, and I think it is a conversation that I'm sure plenty of people will be really interested in having, so I appreciate you joining me on the show today.

Well, Adam Gray, really good to speak with you this morning, and I think it is a conversation that I'm sure plenty of people will be really interested in having, so I appreciate you joining me on the show today.

No problems anytime, Thank you

No problems anytime, Thank you

Thanks so much for your time.

Thanks so much for your time.