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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 6 Hansard (23 May) . . Page.. 1762 ..

MINISTER FOR URBAN SERVICES

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NO. 236

Landfill Sites - Scavenging Rights

Mr Wood - asked the Minister for Urban Services -

(1) What contracts or agreements exist which give Revolve rights to materials taken to ACT landfill sites.

(2) What is the extent of those rights. Are scavengers specifically precluded from the sites.

(3) Is it the Government's intention that as much material as possible, including that rejected by Revolve, be recycled.

(4) Has the Government considered trialing a system of licensing the few regular scavengers not employed by Revolve.

Mr De Domenico - the answer to the Member's questions are as follows:

(1) Revolve was first licensed to undertake materials scavenging at the tipping faces at Canberra' landfills in 1988. A revised licence agreement is currently being finalised.

(2) The existing and new agreement grant 'exclusive rights' to Revolve to recover material dumped at tipping faces at the two landfills. The new agreement has been extended to allow Revolve to have materials dropped at their sites on the landfills.

Unauthorised scavengers are not permitted at either landfill. This requirement acknowledges the agreements between the Government and the various recycling operations (including metals, motor oil, garden waste, paper and containers) at the landfills as well as occupational health and safety issues for landfill staff and the general public.

(3) The Government is committed to a policy of waste reduction and recycling to meet the national waste reduction target. For its part, Revolve has been authorised to recover materials dumped at the landfills as a community-based employment initiative.

(4) No. Introducing "part-time" scavengers at the landfills, in direct competition to Revolve, would reduce the profitability of Revolve's operations and limit their ability to create new employment opportunities.

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