[Greens-Media] 85% Victorians want it, the Premier wants it, let's do it.

[Adele.Pedder at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Yesterday 92,000 Victorians cleaned up more than 3,000 tonne of rubbish 
from our creeks, streets, parks and beaches on Clean Up Australia Day. The 
Greens say we can prevent most of this litter hitting the ground with a 
Cash for Containers scheme. 

"Drink containers are now the largest proportion of littler collected on 
Clean Up Australia day. We could stop this litter before it hits the 
ground with a 10 cent refund on bottle and cans," said Victorian Greens 
spokesperson on waste and recycling, Colleen Hartland.

"A Cash for Containers scheme is supported by 85 per cent of Victorians* 
as well as the Premier."

In the 2010 election year Denis Napthine said: 
"I have been a long-time supporter of container deposit legislation for 
Victoria. I have argued for a bottle and can deposit  scheme in the 
Parliament and in the media."
"The state Liberal and National Coalition strongly supports the 
introduction of a Victorian and national drink bottle and can refund 
scheme."
"The scheme works well in South Australia and should be introduced into 
Victoria and then become a National scheme." 

"The Premier says he wants a Cash for Containers scheme, and Victorians 
want the scheme. It has been proven to work in South Australia, so what 
are we waiting for?"

"This week in parliament  I'll be delivering more than 3,000 letters and 
postcards to the Premier from members of the public. Each is calling for 
the Premier to stand by his words and support The Greens Cash for 
Containers plan."

"The Federal Government has disbanded the COAG Committee responsible for 
investigating a National Cash for Containers Scheme. We can't wait any 
longer and must get on with the job in Victoria" said Ms Hartland.

For comment: Colleen Hartland 0417 445 845


* Newspoll data sighted in a Letter from Ian Kiernan, Chairman Clean Up 
Australia. Available on request.

The Greens have a Bill in parliament to establish a Cash for Containers 
scheme in Victoria - 
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/static/www.legislation.vic.gov.au-bills.html