[Greens-Media] Greens MP Calls on Local Government to Carry the Flag on Container Deposits

[Christine Donayre]

Media Release
5 November 2008
 
Greens MP calls on Local Government to carry the flag on Container
Deposits
 
The release of today’s figures on the National Packaging Covenant
shows the final nail is the coffin Australia’s packaging recycling
scheme. In light of the packaging industry’s failure to meet modest,
watered-down recycling targets, Greens MP, Ian Cohen, in partnership
with 79 Greens Local Councillors,is urging Local Governments to
investigate the benefits of Container Deposit Schemes. 
 
“We have given the packaging industry 9 years to increase recycling
rates and they can’t even break the 50% mark. Meanwhile, South
Australia has achieved packaging recycle rates of 70-80% with the use of
a Container Deposit Scheme,” says Greens MP Ian Cohen.     
 
“A Container Deposit Scheme will not only succeed where the National
Packaging Covenant has abysmally failed, but it will also reduce
Australia’s GHG by over 1.3 million tonnes of CO2e per year, save
enough water to permanently supply over 24,000 Australian homes and
deliver the same level of Australian air quality improvements as taking
140,000 cars off the road.”
 
“There can be no clearer evidence of the obstructionist behaviour
exhibited by the packaging industry to frustrate the environmental
aspirations of ordinary Australia’s for the sake of a few inches on
the bottom line of the large multinational packaging companies.”
 
“The figures clearly demonstrates that the collusion of State
government apathy and packaging industry self regulation has failed
Australia’s waste management and recycling objectives. NSW residents
need to work with their Local Governments to show the Rees’ Labor
Party that they want an efficient recycling system to capture ‘away
from home consumption’ - approximately 50% of all food and beverage
consumption.  
 
“NSW’s Deputy Premier and Environment Minister must to break the
disenchanting mantra of a ‘national approach’ on container deposit
schemes. The Minister and the bureaucracy know that the procedural hoops
for a national approach are set way too high. NSW has waited long enough
for a container deposit scheme and it is time the Premier gives my
Container Deposit Scheme Bill ‘a red hot go’.   
 
Further Information: Ian Cohen: 0409 989 466 or Christine Donayre on
0412 188 232