By ERWIN CHLANDA
Negotiations about a new container deposit system between the Territory Recycling Depot in Smith Street, Alice Springs, and drink manufacturers have broken down.
Owner and manager Stewart Pritchard says the interim scheme financed by the NT Government since April came to the end yesterday and no agreement has been reached about its replacement.
The depot is closed for stocktake and it is not clear when it will be reopened.
Mr Pritchard says the manufactures want the depot to do three times the work for less than what is paid in Adelaide, although the cost of living in Alice Springs is acknowledged as being higher.
He says the current offer would need to be doubled for recycling to be resumed.
“We refuse to be forced into a situation of losing further money,” he says.
Under the NT sponsored scheme there were eight “separations” – clear, green and brown glass, aluminium cans, clear and coloured plastic, liquid paper board and HDPE.
The manufacturers would require a total of 24 separations.
Mr Pritchard says negotiations are with Statewide (Coca Cola), Marine Stores (Lion Nathan) and Envirobank (Carlton United including VB, Red Bull and others).
He says Territory Recycling Depot is a joint venture with the international firm Veolia, based in France, but his opinions are not necessarily those of Veolia.