Enviro groups lead renewed calls for container deposit scheme in Victoria
A MASSIVE haul of bottles and cans collected from Melbourne streets in just two hours has sparked renewed calls for a cash-for-containers scheme — But major political parties still won’t act.
Inner South
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MORE than 2600 bottles and cans were collected during a mass public rubbish clean up in the city last weekend, sparking a renewed push for a container deposit scheme to be introduced.
About 300 litter warriors picked up 7000 litres of rubbish from Melbourne’s CBD in two hours as part of Spring Clean the City on September 15, organised by Beach Patrol, Love Your Street and the Boomerang Alliance.
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Drink containers that would be included under a 10c container deposit scheme made up 33 per cent of the litter collected.
Beach Patrol Australia vice president Ross Headifen said a cash-for-containers scheme would dramatically reduce the amount of litter clogging up streets and beaches.
“Victoria is the last mainland state to commit to a scheme, with the government saying there are better ways of dealing with litter and fixing recycling,” he said.
“Meanwhile, our recycling is in shambles and Victoria is drowning in litter.”
Boomerang Alliance spokeswoman Annett Finger said a container deposit scheme would help the environment and provide vital fundraising opportunities for charities and community groups across the state.
“To put a 10c deposit on a container means it is less likely to get tossed, more likely to get picked up and recycled,” she said.
“Most importantly, it creates funding opportunities.
“We estimate Victorians are missing our on $50 million on fundraising each year by not having the scheme.”
Also among the 7000 litres of rubbish collected on the day were 726 straws, 913 coffee cups and 617 lids.
An estimated 540 million pieces of plastic enter Port Phillip Bay and wash up on local beaches each year, prompting the Leader to join forces with Port Phillip Council to launch the LoveOurBay campaign this month.
When contacted by the paper last week, both major parties said they currently had no plans to introduce a scheme.
Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the State Government would monitor container deposit schemes in operation around Australia to “understand the benefits and costs of various models and how they might work in Victoria”.
Opposition environment spokesman Nick Wakeling said he would keep an eye on the rollout of the scheme in NSW and “see if they can fix all the teething problems and cost blowouts they have had”.
“Whilst the idea of a container deposit scheme sounds good in theory, all evidence to date indicates that it will be consumers who will end up being out of pocket especially when councils are currently doing a good job with recycling,” he said.
And State Government data suggested there had been an eight per cent drop in drink container litter over the past year.
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