Page 2968 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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reasonable issue in relation to drop-off points. I think we have sought to be more innovative and more expansive. I think the minister for the environment can add to this answer. I am more than happy to take your supplementary, Ms Couteur, but the minister for the environment is happy to add to my response.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Corbell?
MR CORBELL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. There is an area of interest related to this question that falls within my portfolio area, and that is in relation to the most recent decision of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, the COAG council of all environment ministers. At its most recent meeting in Hobart earlier this year, in fact, about a month ago, the EPH agreed to the development of a national e-waste strategy for Australia. It agreed to progress that to the next steps in terms of its policy development.
The e-waste strategy will allow for a national recycling scheme for e-waste, in particular, electronic goods, but also a range of other goods that are currently difficult to recycle. That e-waste strategy will now be tested through a consumer preference process to determine how consumers would most prefer this to work, for example, could it be a kerbside collection scheme or should it be a depot-based drop-off scheme. I think the important thing to stress is that it will be developed in conjunction with the people who initially create these products, and they will recover the costs of this recycling scheme through a small increase in the cost of the goods at the point of sale.
The e-waste scheme is well advanced. In terms of its policy development I think we will see it finalised over the next six to 12 months to allow it to be rolled out. The ACT government strongly supports that approach.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Le Couteur, a supplementary question?
MS LE COUTEUR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to go back to the thrust of my question, which is about batteries and light globes, which I am glad you have agreed are small and need to be dealt with. Why hasn’t the government made it easier to recycle these products by putting recycling bins in government shopfronts and libraries?
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Ms Le Couteur. As I was concluding my previous answer, I acknowledged, Ms Le Couteur, the issue you raise. In terms of geographic spread, we have concentrated formal waste disposal capacity at Mitchell and at Mugga Lane. Of course, those decisions were taken as a result of economies principally. To the extent that there no significant resource issues in the suggestion that you make, Ms Le Couteur—and I will take some advice on that—as long as there are no resource issues and no safety issues and no issues in relation to the amenity of places such as a shopfront in the context of maintaining waste disposal bins for equipment such as light bulbs and batteries and mobile phones, then I think you have a moot point.
I do not have the technical advice with me to answer that particular aspect of your question. On face value, Ms Le Couteur, I think the point you make has force, but I
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