The ACCC has decided to grant authorisation for ten years to Recyclers of South Australia Incorporated (Recyclers SA) for collective bargaining. In particular, Recyclers SA sought authorisation to collectively negotiate on behalf of, and collectively provide advice to, its member collection depots in relation to their contracts with super collectors.
Under South Australia’s container deposit scheme, collection depots collect beverage containers from the public in exchange for a 10-cent refund and deliver them to super collectors, who then facilitate the recycling of the containers.
Participation in collective bargaining is voluntary for both depots and super collectors. Authorisation effectively provides a legal exemption; collective bargaining by collection depots who are each other’s competitors may otherwise breach competition laws.
Further information, including the ACCC’s determination granting authorisation, is available on the ACCC’s authorisation Public Register.