container deposit legislation, how long do we have to wait?

It's good to hear the Senator Scott Ludlum has drafted legislation to introduce a national container deposit scheme. The legislation aims to put a 10cent value on beverage containers that would otherwise end up in landfill or our environment.

As thousands of people across the country participated in Clean Up Australia Day activities last weekend, beverage containers continued to be a large part of what was collected by volunteers. A deposit system would go a long way to getting this waste out of our environment and into the recycling stream. Recent reports show that 94% of Victorians support a container deposit scheme.

The Shire of Yarra Ranges has long supported a Container Deposit scheme, first resolving to support it back in February, 2008. Our support led me to present to the Senate Inquiry into the Management of Australia's Waste Streams where we highlighted to Senators the importance of a mandatory broad based container/packaging recovery scheme.

At the moment the only thing standing in the way of a national container deposit scheme is the federal government. The new parliamentary secretary for sustainability and waste, Senator Don Farrell has responsibility for this issue. If you're keen to see this issue progressed then write to Senator Farrell to ask him to stop delaying the scheme.

South Australia has had a very successful scheme in place for over 30 years, putting much money into the pockets of community groups across the state whilst they have far greater recycling rates than other states with no scheme. The Northern Territory has just introduced its own scheme. It's time for the country to have a national based container deposit scheme.

There are so many benefits to a beverage container deposit scheme, less litter in the environment, more money in the pockets of community groups, higher recycling rates and less need for raw products as there's greater availability of recycled materials.

If you'd like to see a national container deposit scheme be sure to write to Senator Don Farrell and let him know.