recycle this!

South Australia has had it for years. Europeans get discounts off their beer for taking bottles back. Is it that hard? This is a response to a pro-forma letter I send to the last state government about creating a container deposit scheme for Victoria. The campaign is STILL going. Here is a link to the campaign website.

http://mps.vic.greens.org.au/10cdeposit



Dear Correspondent

  PROPOSAL FOR DEPOSITS ON DISPOSABLE DRINK CONTAINERS


  Thank  you  for  your  recent  email  to  the  Premier,  advocating  the
  introduction  of container deposits in Victoria to increase recycling. I
  am replying on the Premier’s behalf.


  While  the  Victorian Government is not in favour of container deposits,
  for  the reasons outlined below, it is important to note that it did not
  prevent  debate  on the Greens’ bill. The Constitution Act 1975 requires
  that legislation which might require funds to be drawn from consolidated
  revenue must originate from the lower house. The Greens’ proposed scheme
  had  the  potential  to impose a cost on government, and so the Clerk of
  the  Legislative Assembly considered the bill a revenue bill, and it was
  therefore not possible for the Legislative Assembly to debate it.


  South  Australia  is the only State that has container deposits for some
  disposable  beverage containers, as well as running kerbside collections
  for  all  recyclable  materials as we have in Victoria. South Australian
  and Victorian recycling data suggests that both recycle at similar rates
  for  the items covered by container deposits. However, South Australians
  pay  significantly more for recycling services, as they actually run two
  collection systems.


  Beverage  containers  make up a relatively small proportion of all waste
  and  should  not  be given undue focus. A more comprehensive approach to
  waste  will  see  recovery of significant quantities of resources across
  the entire waste spectrum and the reduction of all types of litter.


  Because comprehensive waste reduction is our aim in Victoria, we provide
  kerbside  collection services throughout the State for materials such as
  glass,  paper,  aluminium,  steel  and  most  plastic  containers. These
  services   are   augmented  by  recycling  programs  in  public  places,
  specialist  services  for  smaller  volume  wastes such as batteries and
  electronic  goods,  and  specific  programs  to  reduce  commercial  and
  industrial  wastes.  We  are  also  working  to  increase  the  range of
  materials  for  which  recycling services are provided, and to influence
  manufacturers  so  that  they  consider  using  recycled  and recyclable
  materials in their products.


  The  Victorian  Government’s  Towards  Zero  Waste plan sets a target of
  reducing  all  waste generated by 12 per cent and increasing the overall
  recycling  rate  to  75 per cent by 2014. You can find information about
  Towards  Zero  Waste  and  our  progress  towards  these  targets at the
  Sustainability Victoria website www.sustainability.vic.gov.au.


  Increasing recycling is an important means of reducing the quantities of
  waste  reaching Victoria’s landfills, thereby reducing the environmental
  impacts  both  of  sourcing  raw  materials  and disposing of waste. The
  Victorian  Government  considers  it is essential to achieve these waste
  reductions as effectively and efficiently as we can.


  Thank you again for writing to the Premier about your views.


  Yours sincerely





  DAN O'BRIEN
  Chief of Staff