CONTAINER DEPOSITS WIN WIN

Monday, 05 July 2010 13:55

Australia’s environment ministers made an historic step towards a Container Deposit System today. Peter Garrett announced the Ministers’ decision in Darwin after the EPHC.

"We welcome this significant step towards a national container deposit system,” said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of Total Environment Centre and Convener of the Boomerang Alliance. “The government is to be congratulated for preferring an evidenced based approach instead of a process open to negative beverage industry influence.”

“Clean Up Australia applauds this decision,” agreed Ian Kiernan AO, Chairman and founder of Clean Up Australia. “It shows that our political leadership is listening to the concerns of the Australian community in taking action on waste management reform.”
 
Mr. Angel pointed out that South Australia already has container deposits and the Northern Territory will have soon, not to mention many countries including the USA - all with massive public support and an 80% recycling rate.

“The environmental and economic benefits have been proved a reality. The Boomerang Alliance is willing to participate in the process announced by the Ministers today if it is independent, balanced and grounded by real results - not esoteric economic theory and unfounded fears.”
Mr Angel said a new green collection system should be established by the private sector, “leaving government to regulate a CDS, rather than investing in new infrastructure or imposing a new tax.”
“A CDS in Australia will produce a major reduction in litter; significant financial benefits to charities; up to 2,000 new jobs; an 80% recycling rate of containers; and hundreds of convenient drop-off centres not only for containers but also for other problem wastes such as batteries and electronic items”
“We urge the government to maintain its momentum by committing to a timetable to make this scheme a reality across the rest of Australia,” said Mr. Kiernan.