MEDIA RELEASE FROM CRAIG INGRAM MP - MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND EAST Issued: Monday 21 January 2008

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Ingram again tackles container deposit legislation

The Independent Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, has written to both the state and federal environment ministers calling for the introduction of a container deposit scheme to increase the recycling of beverage containers and remove them from the litter stream.

“South Australia has for decades been operating an extremely successfully and popular program and have been constantly encouraging other states and the commonwealth to come on board,” Mr Ingram said.
 
“This is an issue that I have been active on for most of my time in Parliament, but unfortunately governments have been reluctant to take on the powerful waste club -- those companies that manufacture and sell beverage containers and donate freely to the major political parties.”
 
Mr Ingram’s push follows Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett’s announcement on abolishing plastic shopping bags.

“While there is some public support for his action on plastic bags, container deposit schemes have widespread public support and arguably will have much greater impact on reducing waste and increasing recycling,” Mr Ingram said.

“It’s time that members of the waste club were forced to deal with the impact of the containers they produce.

“CDL not only increases the recycling of beverage containers, it is also a popular fundraising option for local clubs and associations, such as Scouts and sporting groups, and has the added benefit of significantly reducing the negative impact of used containers on roadside and marine environments.

“Plastic bags are a problem, but if the state and federal governments are serous about tackling the environmental impact of waste, they need to put CDL on the national agenda,” Mr Ingram concluded.