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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 3 Hansard (27 May) . . Page.. 608 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

In order to reap the numerous benefits to the ACT economy from large-scale recycling, a number of strategies are needed. Many of them are outlined in the MBA strategy - the provision of recycling facilities, services and infrastructure, education and training of industry and consumers, economic incentives, regulation, and ongoing research and new product development. I would definitely like to see the Government take a much more proactive approach in this area. Regulatory incentives are an important first step of an overall strategy in this area, and this is recognised by the MBA in their report when they say:

The use of Waste Management Plans in the development approval process is one method of encouraging the industry to consider the disposal/recycling of its waste in the early stages of the development planning process. This in turn will increase the supply of suitable material for recycling by encouraging better on-site sorting practices.

The report also says:

In addition to helping local authorities gain a better understanding of the waste generated by a given area, the adoption of the waste management plan approach encourages increased awareness by the community of waste generation and recycling issues.

The report also comments that waste management plans are a useful deterrent to illegal dumping. I want to point out that the approach we are taking is not radical. In New South Wales, as part of the "Waste Not ..." development control plan and local approvals policy there is a requirement for waste management plans to be submitted by applicants for development and building approval. Other features of the policy are the provision of advice on waste minimisation and recycling issues.

Mr Speaker, I would like to stress again that government obviously has to take a very proactive role, particularly over the next couple of years, if we are to meet the no waste by 2010 target. There are many other things the ACT Government could be doing. The Greens have been putting pressure on government for some time to make more proactive use of purchasing policies to encourage environmentally sustainable business practices. There are no real systems in place to actively encourage the use of recycled products by the ACT Government. In fact, while other States, including New South Wales and Victoria, are starting to take a more proactive approach to the use of recycled materials, according to the MBA report, in the ACT virgin materials are still mostly used in preference to locally produced recycled materials. The MBA report, as well as recommending the introduction of waste management plans as part of the development approval process, recommended that all government or government-sponsored construction tenders for the purchase of materials be required to specify the use of the maximum level of recycled materials possible. This is a very good suggestion indeed, and I hope to see the Government respond positively.

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