Waste at historic turning point

Thursday, 08 June 2000 10:00

"A new taskforce is essential because the Head of the Environment Protection Authority said last night at the Estimates hearings that he thought Sydney needed a new megatip. The Inquiry clearly found that landfills are least preferred - it is dinosaur technology. The Minister and more enlightened people have to take a direct role in sorting out this crucial environmental issue, the EPA have been left behind " said Jeff Angel, Director of Total Environment Centre.

"If NSW adopts the type of approaches to managing waste, recommended by the Inquiry, then thousands of jobs will be created. A megadump will employ very few, setting back new waste businesses and employment. We call on the Government to invest in the future not the past," said Mr Angel.

"Sydney has sufficient landfill capacity for at least 11 years according to the Inquiry. There is ample time to put new technologies and practices into place and avoid imposing a super dump on country NSW. Such a dump will destroy Sydney's aim to be a clean and green city," said Kathy Ridge, Executive Officer of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.

"If the Government approves a new megadump then it is buying all sorts of political problems, from country people to environmentalists. Political, environmental and economic wisdom calls for a new approach," the two groups said.