What is Carmel Tebbutt costing your council? - 15 May 2009

“Environment Minister Carmel Tebbutt is costing the people in her electorate more than $280,000 each year by her refusal to support a 10c Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) in NSW, ” says Ian Cohen, “and Barry O’Farrell could be saving the people of Hornsby shire over $450,000 a year.”

“After having Local Council Waste Return Data from 4 councils analysed by waste experts, I can advise ratepayers in the Marrickville and Hornsby electorates that the Environment Minister and the Opposition Leader are putting the interests of beverage companies ahead of those of their local communities. Across just four local government areas that we looked at there are savings to be made of almost $1.1 million. There are 152 local councils in NSW – think of the enormous savings. Kerbside recycling costs around $168 million a year cost for NSW councils.

“That is only part of the economic advantage of CDL. A 10c container deposit return scheme provides local councils with new income from returning beverage containers remaining in kerbside recycling, savings in landfill fees, lower gate fees at recyclers and increased income from recycled paper sales.”

“A recent Victorian report on a 10c container deposit scheme showed ratepayers could save $15.2 million annually and could generate $63.5 million for the Victorian State Government from unredeemed deposits. After administration costs the Victorian Government would have a net benefit of around $35.5 million.”

“Container Deposit Schemes are an economic and environmental no-brainer. The national packaging recycling rate is in the doldrums at 45% while in South Australia it is approximately 80%. Public support for a container deposit scheme has continually polled figures at over 90% yet this support has been no match for the $2 million dollars donated by Coca Cola and the $650,000 donated by Lion Nathan to the major parties over the last 8 years.

“These figures - which clearly demonstrate the subsidisation of waste management inaction - are a wake up call to the Environment Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to support my Container Deposit Bill. The scheme is a double dividend - a win for jobs and a win for the environment. “

“Supporting CDL will show that the Environment Minister is serious about her rhetoric on ‘green jobs’ in NSW. The scheme could finance a new generation of recycling infrastructure (at no cost to local or state government) and create up to 1000 new jobs for NSW and a significant cash investment in collection points such as reverse vending machines.”

“South Australia’s Scouts raise $7 million dollars each year from running container recycling centres, allowing their membership fees to be the lowest in Australia. If NSW had a similar scheme, the potential benefit to Scouts or other community groups is enormous.”

“This scheme will result in less landfill, less litter, fewer glass accidents, increased quantity of better quality recyclables, pollution reduction and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”