Consumer support for the Baird government's decision to introduce cash-for-containers recycling has surged to 90 per cent, according to a Newspoll commissioned by the Total Environment Centre.

A letter leaked to The Sun-Herald this month revealed Premier Mike Baird had written to the packaging industry to inform them the NSW government "favours the introduction" of a container deposit scheme. The scheme has been resisted by the beverages industry for two decades.

Waste not want not: NSW residents want container deposit recycling and are prepared to cop the 10¢ levy. Credit:Domino Postiglione

Cabinet is expected to meet to consider the scheme in February. Ahead of any official announcement, two Liberal politicians in seaside electorates, Coogee MP Bruce Notley-Smith and Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton, a cabinet minister, this week took out local newspaper advertisements saying the NSW government will deliver container deposit recycling to protect beaches.

The plan to use reverse vending machines to automatically separate glass, plastic and metal containers, and issue a refund, was supported by 90 per cent of NSW residents surveyed by Newspoll.