[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_State Needs Waste Management Strategy_C O'Connor MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

DCC DECISION EXPOSES WASTE MANAGEMENT FAILURE

Cassy O'Connor MP
Greens Shadow Environment Spokesperson

Thursday, 30 October 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today congratulated Devonport City Council (DCC)
for overturning last week's decision to discontinue kerbside recycling,
but expressed dismay at the subsequent DCC vote to not accept a Veolia
Environmental Services contract for kerbside recycling from July 1 next
year, potentially undermining the viability of kerbside recycling across
the entire North West Coast.

Greens Shadow Environment spokesperson Cassy O'Connor MP said the
situation in Devonport exposes the Labor government's failure to
establish an effective statewide waste management strategy, and called
on the government to prioritise working with the Local Government
Association of Tasmania, local Councils and the community in developing
and implementing an enforceable statewide waste management strategy as a
matter of urgency.

"Recycling is a key component in any modern waste management regime and
it is embarrassing that the actions of half a dozen Councillors are
holding an entire region to ransom while Council debates the obvious
benefits of recycling," said Ms O'Connor.

"The DCC have done the right thing in overturning last week's
ill-considered decision, but the subsequent decision to reject the
contract for future kerbside recycling leaves recycling on the entire
North West Coast in limbo."

"The Bartlett government needs to address their policy failure, provide
leadership at the state level, and start working cooperatively with the
LGAT, local communities and their Councils to develop a comprehensive,
enforceable statewide waste management strategy." 

"We live in the 21st Century where resources are becoming scarce and it
is simply unacceptable to dump recyclable material in landfill."

"The Bartlett government must show some leadership to chart a way out of
this impasse," said Ms O'Connor.


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Text of motion tabled by Cassy O'Connor MP in the House of Assembly
today:

That this House

1.        Notes that last night Devonport City Council voted 7 for to 5
against to overturn last  week's ill-considered decision to discontinue
kerbside recycling in the municipality from mid-2009, but,
disappointingly, a second motion to accept a contract for Veolia
Environmental Services to undertake kerbside collection and recycling
from July 1 next year was defeated;

2.        Expresses its great concern that the contract vote throws into
doubt the viability of kerbside recycling across the North West coast,
as the proposed contract also covers Burnie, Central Coast, Circular
Head, Kentish, Latrobe and Waratah-Wynyard municipalities;

3.        Reiterates its conviction that recycling is a key component of
a contemporary waste management regime, that also encourages consumers
to consider their material consumption and waste production;

4.        Calls on the Bartlett Government to acknowledge the Devonport
situation exposes a failure of management on the part of government to
lead by establishing an effective statewide waste management strategy;

5.        Further, demands the Bartlett Government work with the Local
Government Association of Tasmania, councils and the community to
develop and implement an enforceable statewide waste management regime.




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