Page 2734 - Week 09 - Thursday, 9 August 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
which is associated with the decomposition of materials.
It then goes on to list particular items. I think it would have been much more beneficial to the community to have addressed the basic problem and suggested action. It is simply not good enough to say that recycling facilities will be provided at convenient locations and then list them - glass, aluminium, et cetera. The problem should have been looked at in specific detail, and the detail listed today in the Government response to the inquiry into commercial and domestic waste management goes some way towards this.
I believe we are well placed to take action in relation to the greenhouse issue and, more specifically, the recycling issue. Of course that will require changes and will take time, as many of the things that we both enjoy and rely on contribute to the greenhouse effect. I share the view of many that, rather than having grand strategies in documents, we should be looking at ways for each of us in the community to address the issue and make changes to our everyday lifestyles. Governments must provide incentives for those changes. I want to come back to the issue of incentives a little later.
Those who drive cars - I must say that I am one - use open fires and barbecues and eat meat will continue to do so and enjoy it. But we are aware of their contribution to the greenhouse effect. However, we can tackle the problem in other ways. We know that if only one tree is removed from the garden not only is it obviously missing but also it becomes hotter, often noisier, and we are all aware that there will be less oxygen around the house.
Similarly, we are all aware that using minimum lighting and investing in good insulation will not only contribute to less electricity being used and reduced bills but also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases about which we worry most. Likewise, encouraging people to contribute to recycling initiatives is made much easier if all products collected are reused or sold and reprocessed. Unfortunately, in Canberra many problems exist.
Newspapers would probably be the greatest contributor to household rubbish but, although we have a paper collection in place, most people are aware that the demand for discarded newsprint is low, and consequently there is a lack of incentive for people to participate. I believe it is time that government looked at ways of assuring those participating in the recycling program that the newsprint will be recycled.
At this point I would like to comment on a survey of community attitudes on recycling paper products from domestic sources in the ACT, which was put out by the ACT Institute of Technical and Further Education School of
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .