World Environment Day - CDL support over 80 per cent!

This from Peter Hopper, Waste Crisis Network (Australia)

Mon, 4 Jun 2001

World Environment Day 2001 sees support for the introduction of Container Deposit Legislation (CDL), around Australia, at well over 80 per cent.

Raising costs for the kerbside collection of bottles and cans has led local councils to recognise the benefits of having refundable deposits on such containers. CDL typically ensures around 90 per cent are efficiently returned to their manufacturer for re-use or recycling, in contrast to kerbside collection which sees the majority of containers going to landfill.

South Australia is the only State or Territory to have introduced CDL. Its residents have enjoyed getting a refund for empty beverage containers since 1978. Now, most other States and Territories are looking at CDL as an alternative to kerbside collection.

In the face of kerbside's raising costs and poor returns, CDL is seen as an efficient and effective means of helping solve the litter and waste problems that plague modern society and have gotten worse in all but South Australia.

Those interested in casting a vote to the question 'Container deposits: Should they be introduced Australia wide?' can do so at:

www.publicdebate.com.au/is/776/index.html

The result of the vote to-date can also be obtained from the above address.

Further information about CDL, and the growing base of support for its introduction, can be found via the following web sites:

www.isf.uts.edu.au/CDL_Review
www.geko.net.au/~gargoyle/CDL
www.lgsa.org.au/policy/environment/waste/cdl
www.recyclesa.com.au
www.bottlebill.org
www.container-recycling.org