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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


CONTAINER DEPOSIT AND RECOVERY SCHEME BILL 2016

                   Western Australia


Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme
              Bill 2016

                       Contents

      Part 1 -- Preliminary
1.    Short title                                           2
2.    Commencement                                          2
3.    Terms used                                            2
      Part 2 -- Beverage Container Deposit
           and Recovery Scheme
4.    Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme        4
5.    Functions of the Authority                            4
6.    Producer or importer of beverage containers liable
      to pay beverage container environmental levy          5
7.    Amount of beverage container environmental levy       5
8.    When beverage container environmental levy must
      be paid                                               6
9.    Beverage Container Environmental Levy Account         6
10.   Beverage containers must be labelled as refundable    7
11.   Prescribed labelling requirements                     7
12.   Authorised collection depots                          7
13.   Authorised transfer stations                          8
14.   Offence to claim refund on beverage container
      purchased outside Western Australia or a
      recognised jurisdiction                               9
15.   Authorised collection depot or authorised transfer
      station to pay refund                                10
16.   Exemption from section 6                             11
17.   Records and enforcement                              12
18.   Review of refund amount                              12



                         211--1                             page i
Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016



Contents



             Part 3 -- General provisions
      19.    Relationship with aspects of the Waste Avoidance
             and Resource Recovery Act 2007                     14
      20.    Protection from liability for wrongdoing           14
      21.    Regulations                                        14
      22.    Transitional provision: Act does not extend to
             existing beverage containers                       15
             Defined terms




page ii
                           Western Australia


                     LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

            (Introduced by Mr Christopher Tallentire, MLA)


     Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme
                   Bill 2016

                               A Bill for


An Act to establish a beverage container deposit and recovery
scheme to be administered by the Waste Authority, to impose a levy
as part of that scheme, and for related purposes.



The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:




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     Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
     Part 1         Preliminary

     s. 1



1                           Part 1 -- Preliminary
2    1.       Short title
3             This is the Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Act 2016.

4    2.       Commencement
5             This Act comes into operation as follows --
6              (a) sections 1 and 2 -- on the day on which this Act
7                    receives the Royal Assent(assent day);
8              (b) the rest of the Act -- on the last day of the period of
9                    12 months after assent day.

10   3.       Terms used
11            authorised collection depot means premises authorised by the
12            Authority under section 12 to be an authorised collection depot;
13            authorised transfer station means premises authorised by the
14            Authority under section 13 to be an authorised transfer station;
15            Authority means the Waste Authority established by the Waste
16            Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007 section 8;
17            BCEL Account means the Beverage Container Environmental
18            Levy Account established under section 9;
19            beverage means --
20              (a) any carbonated or non-carbonated soft drink, fruit juice
21                    or water; or
22              (b) liquor (as defined in the Liquor Control Act 1988
23                    section 3(1)) that is a liquid at 20o Celsius; or
24              (c) milk, including animal milk, soy milk or processed milk;
25                    or
26              (d) any other liquid intended for human consumption by
27                    drinking that is prescribed to be a beverage,
28            but does not include a beverage of a class that is prescribed not
29            to be a beverage;


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                    Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
                                          Preliminary        Part 1

                                                                  s. 3



1    beverage container means a container, containing a beverage,
2    that is produced for the sale of the beverage in a sealed form to
3    the consumer, that has a capacity not exceeding 3 litres and that
4    is --
5      (a) a plastic or glass bottle; or
6      (b) an aluminium or steel can; or
7      (c) a liquid paperboard or composite carton; or
8      (d) a composite container,
9    but does not include a beverage container of a class that is
10   prescribed not to be a beverage container;
11   beverage container environmental levy means the levy imposed
12   by this Act;
13   import means to bring, or cause to be brought, into Western
14   Australia;
15   label includes emboss, paint or stamp;
16   recognised jurisdiction means a State or Territory that --
17     (a) has a beverage container deposit and recovery scheme
18            that is similar to the Scheme under this Act; and
19     (b) is prescribed for the purposes of this definition;
20   refund amount means 10 cents, or any higher amount
21   prescribed following a review conducted in accordance with
22   section 18;
23   Scheme means the Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery
24   Scheme established under section 4.




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     Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
     Part 2         Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme

     s. 4



1               Part 2 -- Beverage Container Deposit and
2                          Recovery Scheme
3    4.         Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme
4               The Authority must establish and administer a scheme called the
5               Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme.

6    5.         Functions of the Authority
7         (1)   In administering the Scheme the Authority is to --
8                 (a) manage the operation of the Scheme having regard to
9                      the provision of environmentally sustainable uses of
10                     resources and best practice in waste management; and
11                (b) collect the beverage container environmental levy; and
12                (c) grant exemptions under section 16; and
13                (d) authorise premises to be an authorised collection depot;
14                     and
15                (e) authorise premises to be an authorised transfer station;
16                     and
17                 (f) enter into agreements with the operators of authorised
18                     collection depots and authorised transfer stations; and
19                (g) facilitate and promote the Scheme; and
20                (h) provide grants or other financial incentives to encourage
21                     the use of recyclable and reusable beverage containers
22                     and the increased use of recycled material from
23                     beverage containers; and
24                 (i) provide information and advice to the Minister in
25                     relation to the operation of the Scheme.
26        (2)   Without limiting subsection (1), the Authority may use any
27              available funds for any of the following purposes --
28                (a) market creation and support for collected beverage
29                      containers and materials;



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                              Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
                 Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme        Part 2

                                                                                 s. 6



1                (b)    financial support for kerbside recycling services (that is,
2                       services involving the collection by or on behalf of local
3                       governments of beverage containers that have been
4                       separated for recycling by occupants of residences or
5                       businesses);
6                 (c)   further offsetting the costs of the collection industry
7                       from the operation of the Scheme;
8                (d)    product development to improve the recyclability and
9                       reusability of beverage containers;
10                (e)   assistance with supporting recycling of beverage
11                      containers in regional and remote communities;
12                (f)   other activities and programmes connected with
13                      recycling of beverage containers which the Authority
14                      considers will facilitate environmentally sustainable use
15                      of resources and promote best practice in waste
16                      management.

17   6.         Producer or importer of beverage containers liable to pay
18              beverage container environmental levy
19        (1)   A person who produces a beverage container in Western
20              Australia, or who imports a beverage container into Western
21              Australia, for the purpose of sale within Western Australia is
22              liable to pay a levy (the beverage container environmental
23              levy) for each such beverage container.
24        (2)   Subsection (1) does not apply to a person to the extent to which
25              the person is exempt from the subsection under section 16.

26   7.         Amount of beverage container environmental levy
27              The beverage container environmental levy is, for each
28              beverage container --
29                (a) 10 cents; or
30                (b) if the regulations prescribe a higher amount for the
31                     purposes of this section, that amount.



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     Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
     Part 2         Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme

     s. 8



1    8.         When beverage container environmental levy must be paid
2               A person who is liable to pay a beverage container
3               environmental levy must pay the levy to the Authority within
4               14 days after the end of the month in which the beverage
5               container was sold by that person in Western Australia.
6               Penalty: a fine of $50 000, and a daily penalty of $5 000 for
7                    each day during which the offence continues.

8    9.         Beverage Container Environmental Levy Account
9         (1)   There is to be established and kept as an agency special purpose
10              account established under the Financial Management Act 2006
11              section 16 an account to be called the "Beverage Container
12              Environmental Levy Account".
13        (2)   The BCEL Account is to be administered by the Authority.
14        (3)   The BCEL Account is to be credited with --
15               (a) any beverage container environmental levy paid; and
16               (b) income derived from the investment of money forming
17                    part of the BCEL Account; and
18               (c) any other money lawfully payable to the credit of the
19                    BCEL Account.
20        (4)   Money held in the BCEL Account may be applied by the
21              Authority --
22               (a) for the purposes set out in section 5(2); and
23               (b) in payment of the costs of administering the BCEL
24                     Account (including the costs of collecting the beverage
25                     container environmental levy).
26        (5)   The provisions of the Financial Management Act 2006 and the
27              Auditor General Act 2006 regulating the financial
28              administration, audit and reporting of departments apply to and
29              in relation to the BCEL Account.
30        (6)   The administration of the BCEL Account is for the purposes of
31              the Financial Management Act 2006 section 52 to be regarded

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                               Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
                  Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme        Part 2

                                                                              s. 10



1                as a service of the department of the Public Service principally
2                assisting in the administration of this Act.

3    10.         Beverage containers must be labelled as refundable
4          (1)   A person must not sell a beverage container unless the container
5                is labelled to the following effect: [X] refund at collection
6                depots when sold in Western Australia.
7                Penalty: a fine of $15 000.
8          (2)   In subsection (1) --
9                X means the refund amount.

10   11.         Prescribed labelling requirements
11               If any labelling requirements are prescribed in relation to
12               beverage containers, a person must not sell a beverage container
13               unless the container is labelled in accordance with the relevant
14               prescribed labelling requirements.
15               Penalty: a fine of $15 000.

16   12.         Authorised collection depots
17         (1)   The Authority may authorise premises to be an authorised
18               collection depot, and may amend or revoke such an
19               authorisation.
20         (2)   The Authority may enter into an agreement with the operator of
21               an authorised collection depot in respect of the location,
22               operation and functions of the authorised collection depot.
23         (3)   Without limiting subsection (2), an agreement may include
24               provisions relating to the following --
25                 (a) the delivery of sorted empty beverage containers to an
26                       authorised transfer station;
27                 (b) the payment to the operator of the authorised collection
28                       depot of an amount equal to the refund amounts paid by
29                       the operator in a period;


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     Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
     Part 2         Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme

     s. 13



1                 (c)   the keeping of records and the inspection of them;
2                 (d)   the payment of any penalty by the operator of the
3                       authorised collection depot for a failure to comply with
4                       the agreement.
5          (4)   Without limiting the types of collection depots that may be
6                authorised --
7                  (a) collection depots may involve manual or mechanised
8                        handling facilities, including reverse vending machines;
9                        and
10                 (b) any of the following may be authorised as collection
11                       depots --
12                          (i) local government sites;
13                         (ii) community centres and community-based
14                              facilities;
15                        (iii) shopping centres and centre car parks;
16                        (iv) service stations or other retailers;
17                         (v) schools;
18                        (vi) "drive through" recycling centres;
19                       (vii) authorised transfer stations.

20   13.         Authorised transfer stations
21         (1)   The Authority may authorise premises to be an authorised
22               transfer station, and may amend or revoke such an authorisation.
23         (2)   The Authority may enter into an agreement with the operator of
24               an authorised transfer station in respect of the location,
25               operation and functions of the authorised transfer station.
26         (3)   Without limiting subsection (2), an agreement may include
27               provisions relating to the following --
28                 (a) the receiving and processing of empty beverage
29                       containers;



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                               Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
                  Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme        Part 2

                                                                               s. 14



1                 (b)    the payment to the operator of the authorised transfer
2                        station of an amount equal to the refund amounts paid
3                        by the operator in a period;
4                 (c)    the sale of processed materials;
5                 (d)    the keeping of records and the inspection of them;
6                 (e)    the submission of a monthly report to the Authority on
7                        the number and types of empty beverage containers
8                        received and processed;
9                  (f)   the payment of any penalty by the operator of the
10                       authorised transfer station for a failure to comply with
11                       the agreement.
12         (4)   After the period of 12 months from the commencement of this
13               Act, an agreement may include, or may be amended to include,
14               provisions relating to accepting and paying a refund on crushed
15               and broken empty beverage containers using an estimate of the
16               refund amount due.

17   14.         Offence to claim refund on beverage container purchased
18               outside Western Australia or a recognised jurisdiction
19         (1)   A person must not present to an authorised collection depot or
20               authorised transfer station for the purpose of claiming the refund
21               amount a beverage container which the person knows or has
22               reason to believe was not purchased in Western Australia or a
23               recognised jurisdiction.
24               Penalty: a fine of $30 000.
25         (2)   The operator of an authorised collection depot or authorised
26               transfer station may request any person presenting a beverage
27               container for the purpose of claiming the refund amount to
28               complete a declaration in the prescribed form stating that the
29               person has no reason to believe that the beverage container was
30               not purchased in Western Australia or a recognised jurisdiction.
31         (3)   Subject to subsection (6), if within any period of 48 hours a
32               person presents 3000 or more beverage containers to an
33               authorised collection depot or authorised transfer station for the

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     Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
     Part 2         Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme

     s. 15



1                purpose of claiming the refund amount, the operator of the
2                authorised collection depot or authorised transfer station must
3                request the person to complete the declaration referred to in
4                subsection (2).
5                Penalty: a fine of $15 000.
6          (4)   The operator of an authorised collection depot or authorised
7                transfer station must not pay the refund amount to a person who
8                has not complied with a request made under subsection (2)
9                or (3).
10               Penalty: a fine of $15 000.
11         (5)   The operator of an authorised collection depot or authorised
12               transfer station must --
13                 (a) keep any declaration made under this section for a
14                       period of 3 years after it is made; and
15                 (b) have the declaration readily available for inspection at
16                       any reasonable time by an authorised officer.
17               Penalty: a fine of $50 000.
18         (6)   Subsection (3) does not apply in respect of beverage containers
19               returned to a reverse vending machine.

20   15.         Authorised collection depot or authorised transfer station to
21               pay refund
22         (1)   A person who accepts the return of an unbroken empty beverage
23               container at an authorised collection depot or authorised transfer
24               station must pay the person who returns it the refund amount.
25         (2)   Subject to subsections (3) and (5), the operator of an authorised
26               collection depot must not unreasonably refuse to accept any
27               unbroken empty beverage container labelled in accordance with
28               section 10 that is returned to the authorised collection depot.
29               Penalty: a fine of $5 000.




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                               Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
                  Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme        Part 2

                                                                               s. 16



1          (3)   The operator of an authorised collection depot or authorised
2                transfer station may refuse to accept the return of a beverage
3                container if --
4                  (a) the beverage container is in an unsafe condition; or
5                  (b) the operator has reason to believe that the beverage
6                        container was not sold in Western Australia or a
7                        recognised jurisdiction; or
8                  (c) a request to complete a declaration under section 14 in
9                        respect of the beverage container has not been complied
10                       with.
11         (4)   The capacity of an operator of an authorised transfer station to
12               refuse to accept the return of a beverage container that is in an
13               unsafe condition is subject to an agreement under section 13(4).
14         (5)   A reverse vending machine may be operated so as to not accept
15               the return of a beverage container in a condition which prevents
16               the reverse vending machine from reading the label referred to
17               in section 10.

18   16.         Exemption from section 6
19         (1)   A person may apply to the Authority, in the form approved by
20               the Authority, to be wholly or partly exempt from section 6(1).
21         (2)   The Authority must within the prescribed period grant an
22               exemption to the person if the Authority is satisfied that the
23               criteria and considerations prescribed for the purposes of this
24               section apply in respect of the person.
25         (3)   The Authority must within the prescribed period advise the
26               applicant in writing --
27                 (a) as to the decision of the Authority; and
28                 (b) if the Authority grants the exemption, as to the terms
29                      and conditions applying to the exemption; and
30                 (c) if the Authority refuses to grant the exemption, of the
31                      reasons for refusing to grant the exemption.


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     Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
     Part 2         Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme

     s. 17



1          (4)   If any of the criteria and considerations prescribed for the
2                purposes of this section cease to apply in respect of a holder of
3                an exemption, the Authority --
4                   (a) may by notice in writing to the holder of the exemption
5                        revoke the exemption; and
6                  (b) if the exemption is revoked, must specify in the
7                        notice --
8                           (i) the reason for revoking the exemption; and
9                          (ii) a reasonable period of time by the end of which
10                               the person will need to comply with this Act.
11         (5)   If an exemption is revoked under subsection (4), the person who
12               held the exemption need not comply with this Act during the
13               period specified in the notice under subsection (4)(b)(ii).

14   17.         Records and enforcement
15         (1)   A person liable to pay the beverage container environmental
16               levy must keep the records necessary to substantiate the amount
17               of levy paid or payable by the person.
18               Penalty: a fine of $50 000.
19         (2)   Records under subsection (1) in relation to a levy amount need
20               not be kept for more than 3 years after the last day on which the
21               levy amount must be paid under section 8.
22         (3)   The Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007 Part 8
23               has effect as if this Act were part of that Act and as if premises
24               that are or were authorised collection depots or authorised
25               transfer stations were premises to which Division 1 of that Part
26               applied.

27   18.         Review of refund amount
28         (1)   The Authority must review the refund amount at least once
29               every 5 years after the commencement of this Act.




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                         Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
            Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme        Part 2

                                                                      s. 18



1    (2)   In conducting a review, the Authority must have regard to the
2          minimum refund amount necessary to maintain the appropriate
3          level of incentive --
4            (a) for producers, distributors and consumers of beverages
5                  in beverage containers to reuse or recycle beverage
6                  containers; and
7            (b) to ensure high rates of recovery of beverage containers;
8                  and
9            (c) to reduce litter and litter-related costs; and
10           (d) to reduce waste, disposal and recycling costs; and
11           (e) to conserve resources.




                                                                  page 13
     Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
     Part 3         General provisions

     s. 19



1                         Part 3 -- General provisions
2    19.         Relationship with aspects of the Waste Avoidance and
3                Resource Recovery Act 2007
4                This Act does not prevent --
5                 (a) a product stewardship plan in relation to beverage
6                       containers from being registered under the Waste
7                       Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007; and
8                 (b) the implementation and operation of extended producer
9                       responsibility schemes under the Waste Avoidance and
10                      Resource Recovery Act 2007 that deal with containers
11                      not covered by the Scheme.

12   20.         Protection from liability for wrongdoing
13         (1)   An action in tort does not lie against a person for anything that
14               the person has done, in good faith, in the performance or
15               purported performance of a function under this Act.
16         (2)   The protection given by subsection (1) applies even though the
17               thing done as described in that subsection may have been
18               capable of being done whether or not this Act had been enacted.
19         (3)   Despite subsection (1), the State is not relieved of any liability
20               that it might have for another person having done anything as
21               described in that subsection.

22   21.         Regulations
23         (1)   The Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters
24               required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed or necessary
25               or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out this Act.
26         (2)   The Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007
27               section 97(1), (3) and (4) and section 98 apply with respect to
28               regulations made under this Act.




     page 14
                        Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016
                                       General provisions        Part 3

                                                                     s. 22



1   22.   Transitional provision: Act does not extend to existing
2         beverage containers
3         This Act does not apply to beverage containers produced in or
4         imported into Western Australia before this Act came into
5         operation.

6




                                                                 page 15
Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2016


Defined terms



                                               Defined terms
            [This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined.
                                   The list is not part of the law.]
      Defined term                                                                                               Provision(s)
      assent day .............................................................................................................. 2
      authorised collection depot ................................................................................... 3
      authorised transfer station ..................................................................................... 3
      Authority ............................................................................................................... 3
      BCEL Account ...................................................................................................... 3
      beverage ................................................................................................................ 3
      beverage container ................................................................................................ 3
      beverage container environmental levy ....................................................... 3, 6(1)
      import.................................................................................................................... 3
      label ...................................................................................................................... 3
      recognised jurisdiction .......................................................................................... 3
      refund amount ....................................................................................................... 3
      Scheme .................................................................................................................. 3
      X .................................................................................................................... 10(2)




 


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