Thursday, 5 October 2023

 Jordan CRUGNALE (Bass) (14:49): (347) My question is for the Minister for Environment. How will local charities, community organisations, schools, sporting groups and individuals within my electorate of Bass be able to assist with making our state cleaner and greener through participating in the container deposit scheme, set to start on 1 November? My community are super keen to start collecting and participating and are hoping to achieve more efficient ways of recycling and to help reduce local litter. This initiative will cut litter by half; reduce waste by turning old bottles, cans and cartons into new ones; and have more than 600 collection points across the state – the most accessible and convenient network in the country. The environmental benefits abound, and importantly also these groups see it as an opportunity to raise funds to support their programs, activities and the good work they do in their local communities through the 10-cent refund reward. The zone operator of our area is Return-It, and I was pleased to meet with them yesterday and hear them rattle off a whole heap of towns. Great!