Seven arrested over Sydney Coke sign stunt

Seven Greenpeace activists have been arrested after scaling Sydney's iconic Coke sign at Kings Cross.

The climbers want to send a message to NSW Premier Mike Baird to stand up to the soft drink giant Coca-Cola and introduce a container deposit recycling scheme for bottles and cans.

The group was attempting to hang a large banner with the words "Stop Coke Trashing Australia" over the billboard on Wednesday morning during peak hour before police intervened.

Police say they have been arrested for trespassing.

The NSW government promised last year to put at least 800 reverse vending machines at popular beaches, parks and public spaces by July 2017.

The technology works by giving people a deposit - a paper receipt - when they put an empty container in the machine.

South Australia has had a container deposit scheme since 1977, offering 10 cents per can or bottle.

But according to Greenpeace, Coca-Cola wants to block the introduction of a container deposit system in NSW that would return 10c to consumers for every drink can and bottle recycled.

"If Mr Baird breaks his promise, it will be because he put the interests of Coca-Cola ahead of the people of NSW, and the environment," Greenpeace Australia's Nathaniel Pelle said in a statement.