Page 4717 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Keep Australia Beautiful has been recognised as Australia’s independent litter prevention leader, and this bill is part of our continued commitment to reducing waste, in line with the ACT waste management strategy, which outlines the government’s goals of waste reduction and full resource recovery. We know providing incentives is one of the best ways to encourage the recycling of drink containers. Research by the City of Sydney found overwhelmingly that a refund-based scheme for beverage containers was the most motivating incentive for people to use the scheme. Our scheme will align with the scheme being introduced in New South Wales.
The New South Wales government released a discussion paper on container deposit schemes for New South Wales in 2015, with extensive consultation. More than 11,000 submissions were received, with more than 98 per cent of respondents in favour of a refund scheme. Our container deposit scheme is part of ACT Labor’s $23.3 million commitment to better suburbs. The commitment of $800,000 for a feasibility study into a recycling scheme for beverage containers was delivered in the budget. Through the budget measure and this bill, the ACT Labor government is delivering on our election commitment for better suburbs across the ACT.
The better suburbs package is the ACT government’s commitment to renew our city by investing in better roads and better community facilities and keeping our suburbs neat and tidy. As the scheme is rolled out the government will be engaging with the community and will be seeking feedback regarding the progress of the CDS. Litter has a considerable impact on our natural environment. Empty beverage containers are some of the most prevalent forms of litter on our roads, in our waterways and on roadsides in our bush capital. Further to the impact on the natural environment, these containers also pose a safety hazard to people who may be injured by glass bottles or packaging. The 2015-16 national litter index indicates that around 25 per cent of ACT litter by volume comprises beverage containers.
This problem is further compounded by the fact that for each plastic bottle we purchase only around seven per cent is made from recycled materials. The reason for this is not that there is insufficient recycled material available but that any composition that includes a higher proportion of recycled material tends to result in a cloudy appearance. There is a clear need for us to challenge how we view recycling and how recyclable materials can be put to use, especially as the national litter index found that there was an increase in litter in volumetric terms in the ACT.
ACT Labor is delivering on our commitment to deliver a container deposit scheme in order to address this issue and to maintain the natural beauty of our city now and well into the future. The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Amendment Bill 2017 provides the framework for the new container deposit scheme. The bill establishes a scheme coordinator who will be responsible for administration, marketing and financial management. The bill provides for a new network operator to establish the infrastructure for the designated collection points. The bill also establishes what containers are eligible under the scheme and implements a cost recovery scheme. The bill sets out requirements for beverage container makers and suppliers to register eligible containers under the scheme and also sets out offences to safeguard the scheme from fraud or false claims for reimbursement.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video