EXPLOSIVE SUMMER BBQ HAZARD

Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 08:37 Wednesday, 25 November 2009 08:31

State Governments are avoiding their responsibility to protect recyclers from dangerous gas cylinders by not providing a safe recycling scheme, Total Environment Centre said today.

“Australians love their barbeques but few realise the potential hazards of used gas cylinders,” said TEC’s senior campaigner, Jane Castle.

“245,000 cylinders per year are disposed of in NSW and many sneak into the wrong places where their potential to explode proves a real danger to recyclers and landfill operators.”

“Not recycling these cylinders is a complete waste of resources and without being safely decommissioned, too many become dangerous stowaways amongst old cars and fridges headed to metal recyclers and landfills.

“State governments must urgently address this problem,” said Castle. “Metal recyclers are spending millions on protective equipment and employee hours as they search out hidden cylinders, as well as dealing with major OH&S risks, damage to equipment, fines, and shut downs.

“The Department of Environment and Climate Change should set up a product stewardship scheme with strong recovery targets and transparent reporting processes instead of blaming the recyclers,” Castle concluded.

“This is a case of community groups and business which are working together to identify resource recovery solutions being hindered by our governments’ refusal to take responsibility.”