DRINKERS will be slugged almost $5 a carton more for craft beer when WA’s cash-for-containers comes into force, the State’s brewers have warned.

The Western Australian Brewers Association claims many customers won’t be able to afford the price hike.

Under the container deposit scheme proposal, due to start in July, 2019 in a bid to lift the State’s low recycling rates, consumers will be paid 10¢ for every bottle and can they recycle, with the scheme funded by producers.

Your cookie settings are preventing this third party content from displaying. If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.

WABA vice-president Aaron Heary, representing about 60 WA brewers, mostly small businesses or family operations, said the scheme would add almost 20¢ to the price per can or bottle of craft beer, yet consumers would only get 10¢ per vessel back. He said it would push a typical carton of $79.95 craft beer up by almost $5.

“In principal we are not against recycling, however we are highly concerned that the proposed design of this scheme will disproportionately penalise small businesses,” Mr Heary said.

Bassendean-based Nail Brewing owner John Stallwood agreed the container deposit scheme would hit microbreweries hard, and called for more education to curb littering and boost recycling.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said he had had a “positive meeting” with WABA representatives and “the key point of our discussions was that the WA container deposit scheme is still in the consultation and design phase”.

Under the current plan, a 10c refund will be given for all types of 150ml to three-litre cans and soft drink bottles as well as bottled waters, flavoured milks and sports drinks.