[Greens-Media] Government inquiry sweeps Container Deposit Legislation under the landfill carpet

[Scott Hickie]

Greens MP Ian Cohen - Media Release  - 

Media Release						       
		
18 April 2008


Government inquiry sweeps Container Deposit Legislation under the
landfill carpet 

“The agreement of the State Environment Ministers to establish an
inquiry into a National Container Deposit Scheme is a small step forward
in demystifying the treasure trove of half-baked and unsubstantiated
criticisms levelled at CDS,” said Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen.    


“Since the first National Packaging Covenant (NPC) in 1999, the
packaging industry has diverted this country from achieving efficient
and effective waste management systems. After 8 years of maintaining the
status quo, it is obvious that the NPC is a reactionary, self-regulatory
regime that simply does not have the capacity to implement proactive,
intelligent and cost effective measures to reduce packaging waste,”
said Mr Cohen.

In a Newspoll survey undertaken on behalf of the Boomerang Alliance in
Western Australia last year, 94.48% of respondents support the
introduction of a CDS and 89% of respondents said they would be willing
to pay a 10c deposit on beverage containers .    

“In the 11th hour as CDS gains significant public support and the NPC
comes up for its mid-term review, the packaging regime in all its
reactionary glory, is attempting to hatch new schemes to collect
commercial and industrial office waste. These nominal schemes will not
secure the 2010 target of 65% recycling.”

“The Covenant is lying on its deathbed and NPC participants are
frantically attempting to revive the regime to fend off the drive
towards a National CDS.”  

“I am anticipating that the government inquiry will find that CDS is
the most economically and environmentally responsible approach to
managing container packaging in concurrence with the extensive Boomerang
Alliance Reports.”  

Greens MLC Ian Cohen introduced the Waste Avoidance and Resource
Recovery (Container Recovery) Bill 2008 into Parliament last week which
proposes to establish a NSW CDS if the NPC fails to achieve its targets.


Further Information: Ian Cohen: 0409 989 466 or Scott Hickie (02) 9230
2204


Scott Hickie
Adviser to Ian Cohen MLC
Macquarie Street, Sydney, 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 2204, 
Fax: +61-2-9230 2267
Mobile: 0404 490 566
Web: www.iancohen.org.au