Tuesday, 3 March 2020

Ministers statements: waste and recycling management

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (12:20): I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s more than $300 million investment in our waste and recycling system. This is the most ambitious package of recycling reforms and investment this state has ever known: $129 million for household recycling reforms, including four bins, four-bin services, and a container deposit scheme (CDS); $100 million for industry development, creating almost 4000 new jobs; $71.5 million to tackle waste crime, keeping Victorians safe.

I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the community’s enthusiasm to embrace opportunities to use more recycled material. Councils and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) are also excited about our comprehensive plan, including our new four-bin system and the CDS. Greater Geelong have already put up their hand to be the trial site for Victoria’s container deposit scheme because they know a CDS will deliver significant improvements to our recycling system.

Gayle Sloan, the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association CEO, has welcomed our investment, stating that, and I quote:

Victoria’s Government again leads the way by committing significant new funds towards our essential industry to help solve the challenges …

and has called on other states to follow Victoria’s lead by making substantial investments in infrastructure, research and market development.

Coca-Cola Amatil has also welcomed our record industry investment package and said companies not moving to recycled materials will become ‘dinosaurs’. The same can be said of some who claimed ‘Bin night … is going to be looting night’ and that people would ‘go from bin to bin stealing bottles’. Some are too focused on their own recycling of leadership ambitions, which is why one in particular is no longer in the house, because he wants to make a display of himself. What is really important for us to learn here is that I would suggest those opposite need to take out the trash more often.