Tuesday, 10 September 2019

 Mr HAYES (Southern Metropolitan) (13:26): Victoria is one of only two Australian states that have not implemented a container deposit scheme, despite an SBS report stating that 84 per cent of Victorians support the introduction of this. The introduction of a container deposit scheme is also backed by industry experts, with Deakin University recycling expert Mr Trevor Thornton saying that:

South Australia’s deposit system, introduced more than 40 years ago, had been highly successful in collecting bottles and cans. It really has brought those items out of the waste stream fairly significantly and reduced litter as well.

The South Australian Environment Protection Authority stated in 2017–18 that almost 603 million containers had been recycled through their scheme. Whilst it would not solve the Victorian recycling crisis by itself, it would play a vital role in reducing litter to landfill and ocean pollution by encouraging recycling. This government must show the community its commitment to a circular economy. Residents would support the implementation of a container deposit scheme as an urgent priority.