Questions are being raised about the Government's scrapping of its container return scheme.

The policy would have encouraged consumers and businesses to return beverage bottles and cans for recycling and reuse.

RNZ has revealed the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff lobbied against the policy in his previous job on behalf of liquor firms.

Zero Waste Network's Marty Hoffart says it's bizarre when 83 percent of Kiwis supported the scheme.

"South Australia had these schemes up and running forty years ago, so did most of the Canadian provinces and much of Europe, and the proof is in the pudding."

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