Action bid on bottle waste

LABOR is demanding the Hodgman Government act quickly on a report into a cash for containers scheme for Tasmania.

Opposition environment spokeswoman Ella Haddad says urgent action is needed on the state’s waste management after councils backed a con- tainer deposit scheme at this week’s Local Government Association conference.

Councils voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion calling on the State Government to investigate the best model for a Tasmanian scheme.

The issue also arose with the conference address from ABC TV’s War on Waste presenter Craig Reucassel.

Ms Haddad said the 23 recommendations of an Environment Protection Authority report into a container refund scheme needed an urgent response.

“We need more than round tables and talk fests,” Ms Haddad said.

“LGAT has said it is time to act on a statewide basis and they are right. Tasmania recov- ers just 37 per cent of the waste it generates, compared to South Australia, which is recovering 80 per cent.

“The State Government’s slow action on waste has left Tasmania vulnerable to considerable reputational risk against its clean-green image that has been steadily built over many years.

“Environment Minister Elise Archer needs to finally commence work on what the Government promised years ago.”

The Opposition has backed the containers move in principle, with Tasmania and Victoria the only states without a commitment to a scheme.

Most states offer 10 cents per container or bottle collected.

A Tasmanian scheme has long been Greens policy.

The Hodgman Government provided $100,000 for the EPA report in last year’s budget.

The report was made available to local government and the waste industry to initiate discussions this month, Acting Environment Minister Michael Ferguson said.

“The Government will now consider the report,” Mr Ferguson said.