2018-07-03
The Victorian Greens have welcomed the Andrews Government finally looking to take the state’s recycling crisis seriously, however spokesperson for waste, Huong Truong, says there are glaring omissions from the announcement.
Boosting the market for recycled goods with government procurement is a step in the right direction, however the policy is far cry from a blueprint for a state-based recycling industry.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens spokesperson for waste, Huong Truong
“Victoria has been crying out for a solution to the recycling crisis, and while The Greens welcome the Andrews Government finally putting ideas on the table, the failure to include a container deposit scheme is a significant oversight.
“To make a big song and dance about improving the quality of kerbside recycling without including a container deposit scheme shows Labor completely misses the point of why it is so important.
“The Greens have a proposal that will cut single use plastics, get bottles and cans out of our waterways and create genuine state-based recycling industry and jobs so Victorians have a genuine option to responsibly deal with their waste.”
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Background
Last week, Victorian Greens spokesperson for plastic pollution Nina Springle launched a policy to fix the recycling crisis with several measures including:
- Increasing incentives for recycling including a container deposit scheme.
- Legally requiring companies to boost recycled content in their packaging, such as a requirement on single use plastic bottles to include 70% recycled content
- Ban a wide range of single-use plastics, including drink straws and fresh produce packaging.
- Invest in local plastic recycling infrastructure and jobs, including investing $80 million to build a state owned and run bottle to bottle recycling plant.
- Support a people led information campaign to reduce plastic consumption, increase recycling and cut plastic pollution.
Further details: https://greens.org.au/vic/news/ending-plastic-pollution