If the Government did its job, we'd have policies that clean up Australia every day

2022-03-06

The Greens have called out the Morrison Government’s refusal to mandate waste and recycling targets as a key reason Aussies will again be found cleaning up the mess of big packaging companies this Clean Up Australia Day. 
 
Greens spokesperson for waste and recycling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: 
 
“It shouldn't be up to citizens to pick up the mess big packaging companies make, but every Clean Up Australia Day that’s exactly what we’re left doing because of our Government’s refusal to mandate waste and recycling targets

“History shows that voluntary targets will never be met by big packaging companies because it’s simply too easy for them to avoid change and their social responsibility.

“Our government could mandate waste and recycling packaging targets with the stroke of a pen. This would go a long way towards keeping waste from choking our oceans and polluting our landscapes. 

“The Greens have a waste and recycling policy that legislates a national approach to phasing out key single-use plastics by 2025, legislates a national approach to container deposit schemes, supports a Global Plastics Treaty, and mandates national packaging targets in law. 

“In the balance of power after the federal election, we will push the next Government to adopt the Greens’ plan and end the waste and recycling crisis for good.”