Coca-Cola Amatil has expressed plans to launch a legal action against the upcoming Northern Territory recycling initiative that would provide a $0.10 incentive for every plastic bottle returned to a beverage manufacturer.

Companies will shoulder the cost and Coca-Cola believes that the new law contradicts the Commonwealth Mutual Recognition Act, which the multinational company stressed, provides for a uniformed sales regulations of products marketed across Australia.

In a statement, Coca-Cola Amatil corporate affairs manager Alec Wagstaff called the new NT law as both unacceptable and detrimental to an existing regulation that is in effect and observed in states and territories belonging to Australia.

Wagstaff said that the Commonwealth Mutual Recognition Act, which was enacted in the 1990s, envisions a single national economy that therefore fosters for harmonised regulatory measures.

In a nutshell, that Commonwealth Act, Coca-Cola stressed in an ABC report on Wednesday, states that "if a product is legal to sell in one state, it is legal to sell in another state."

"So for one state, or in this case territory, to go it alone and create a non-harmonised regulatory system, we believe breaches that Act," Wagstaff argued.

Coca-Cola fears that over the long-haul, the NT law will establish precedents that would be untenable to the interests of beverage players operating in Australia.

However, Coca-Cola's planned legal action was wholly based on its self-serving interests, according to environmental group Clean Up Australia.

The group added that if the giant multinational firm succeeded on its campaign, then the country's recycling agenda could be derailed especially if the measures to be implemented would run in conflict with companies' business operations.

"If they win, it will be a huge win for the irresponsible beverage industry and a huge loss for the environment, and the citizens of Australia," Clean Up Australia chair Ian Kiernan was quoted by ABC as saying.

Also, Kiernan scored Coca-Cola for its brazen arrogance in challenging a plan that proponents hope would eventually lead to national container deposit scheme, which he added would be an immense contribution for efforts to recycle the waste products generated by huge firms in the country.