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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 8 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2222 ..

MS MacDONALD (continuing):

a selection of technology has been delayed. The ACT government will therefore continue to monitor evolving technologies and trends elsewhere, to identify the best future option for recovering household waste from Canberra residences.

Until a suitable reprocessing technology becomes viable, Canberra residents can still play their part by composting their waste and food organics at home and by using the available recycling services, such as Canberra Sand and Gravel and the other service provided to take green waste.

I would also say that, in the Chifley trial, there was a large percentage of people who were very supportive of the trial going ahead. I say that from personal knowledge because, during the election campaign, I conducted my own survey-in addition to the survey conducted by ACT No Waste.

Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: there is a lot of discussion in the chamber. Ms MacDonald is speaking to a motion. I doubt whether any members are really listening. They seem to be participating in other discussions in the chamber.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Corbell. Members, Ms MacDonald is delivering a motion to the Assembly. It would be proper for us to either pay attention or leave the chamber.

MS MacDONALD: Thank you, Mr Speaker, and thank you, Mr Corbell. I know that waste does not interest everybody, but it is an important matter to all residents of the ACT, if we are trying to reduce the amount of waste that goes back to landfill.

I was saying that I conducted my own survey, to which I received a response rate of about 10 per cent. I believe that is a fairly high response rate for surveys. Over 90 per cent of people were in favour of the bio-bin trials. I know there are a number of people in Chifley who are disappointed that the trial will not be continued but, as I said, it would be fiscally irresponsible to continue it. We are almost at the point where the residual waste for kitchen and other food scrap waste will be able to be reprocessed from the garbage bin.

During the bio-bin trial, all the organic material collected was converted to compost by Corkhill Bros. That compost was of a very high quality and has been used around Canberra gardens. Some of that composted material was provided to Melrose Primary School, which had assisted in facilitating information sessions to people in Chifley who were about to participate in the trial.

There were three composting and worm farming sessions conducted shortly after the trial finished. About 50 people attended that. A number of people, including myself, were not able to get along to that, because of the election campaign at the time. As I was door-knocking in Chifley, I met a number of people who were disappointed that they had been unable to make it to that information session. When I met with Leigh Palmer and other people from ACT No Waste, I told them there were a number of people who had expressed disappointment that they had been unable to make it.

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