CDL: Greens push at local and federal level for a refundable deposit on containers. 26th July 2013

Randwick City Council will use its website social media buttons to actively lobby the NSW State and Federal Governments to bring in a national Container Deposit Scheme.

The decision comes ahead of the expected consideration by state and federal environment ministers of a final report into how such a scheme could be structured.

Greens Councillor Murray Matson who put the suggestion to last night’s Council, said today,

“Debate on a national container deposit scheme based on legislation should surely be a federal election issue given the positive response every year to Clean Up Australia day events across the nation. It astounds me that neither the Prime Minister nor the leader of the opposition have twigged that the general community wants them to take an assertive stance against the packaging industries rubbishing of our environment.”

James Macdonald, the Greens candidate for Kingsford Smith has challenged the Labor and Liberal parties to make Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) an immediate priority. He said,

“Federal legislation is a good first step to address the nationwide issue of packaging waste. South Australia’s scheme has achieved recycle rates of 84% on consumed drink containers, and there’s no reason we can’t have a similarly effective, nationwide program. The packaging industry has shown too much inertia for this issue to be left to market forces. If both major parties were serious about addressing waste, CDL would be an immediate priority. I call on them to clarify their positions on the issue.”

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