Orica not over: the spill at the Orica plant in Newcastsle is having wide ramifications.  When it occurred TEC called for a review of the law because the shoddy notification of environmental harm by Orica was a reflection of the general licensing provisions for all industry.  We also called for an audit of other hazardous plants to push for much less pollution aiming for zero waste.  The government is now examining the general pollution laws and has commenced an audit of 44 chemical plants and refineries.  Next zero pollution!

Container deposits push grows: TEC director Jeff Angel travels to Canberra tomorrow where national and state environment ministers are meeting to discuss a range of issues including our key campaign, container deposits.  This popular scheme is growing as a political issue and has been given an extra push from the decision by Coke to take the NT cash for containers law to court - a big PR mistake with calls for a boycott in the NT of Coke products.

Coal seam gas - not in our catchments: Last year TEC released confidential company documents revealing a push for CSG mining in Sydney's pristine drinking water catchments.  APEX PL has plans for a production facility.  Since then the issue has become a major controversy.  Now the government authority in charge of protecting the catchment has refused access to APEX. TEC's natural areas campaigner is also working with local Illawarra groups to prevent the project.

www.tec.org.au