Page 4725 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 31 October 2017
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Assembly. It will detail the performance of the scheme, the container recovery rates and the operation of collection points.
In addition, as the responsible minister, I will have the power to direct the territory’s designated waste manager, who is responsible for compliance, to conduct performance audits on both the scheme coordinator and the network operator at any time. A full review of the scheme is required under the bill after five years of operation.
The container deposit scheme will enable eligible containers collected through co-mingled kerbside recycling, commonly known as the yellow bin, also to be redeemable for the 10c refund. The bill proposes a method for redeeming these containers without having to separate them manually from the broader recycling stream. This process will avoid additional handling costs for containers that are being recycled anyway.
Refunds for containers processed through co-mingled kerbside recycling will be shared between the material recovery facility that processes these containers and the territory. This is to ensure that the scheme does not prejudice the existing co-mingled recycling system and that refunds are returned to the community.
Some other benefits expected with the introduction of a container deposit scheme are funding for better resource recovery infrastructure, an increase in local economic activity and the provision of greater employment opportunities in the coming years, particularly for community groups and organisations.
Consultation with the community via the your say website will be available very soon, along with a discussion paper about how the scheme will operate. Preliminary feedback from the Canberra community has indicated broad support for the scheme and significant support has been expressed by sporting, community and charity groups for a potential new revenue stream. This scheme represents a win for the community and community groups by offering a small reward for empty beverage containers, which could accrue significant benefits to those groups over time. This incentive will also help keep these containers out of the litter stream and increase recycling, benefiting our environment.
I expect that the Canberra community will take a hands-on approach to participating in the scheme as they see the revenue benefits and embrace recycling and litter reduction. It may also lead to improved recovery of other wastes through behavioural changes. This bill will ensure that the beverage industry accepts its share of responsibility to manage recovery of beverage containers and reduce litter in the community.
This bill outlines a simple and logical process to introduce a container deposit scheme in the territory which is aligned with other schemes and which will reduce litter and promote recycling by engaging the Canberra community through incentives.
In response to comments, I table an additional explanatory statement. I also will make some comments on comments made in particular by members of the opposition. Of
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