Environment ministers must make packaging industry more accountable
30 June 2005
Australia's environment ministers must make the packaging industry more accountable for the waste it generates, the President of the Australian Local Government Association, Cr Paul Bell, said today. The ministers will meet in Perth tomorrow to consider the future of the National Packaging Covenant.
"The ministers are considering the renewal of the covenant for another five years, but what's at stake is just how far the ministers will go to make the industry more accountable for the waste it generates," Cr Bell said.
"ALGA wants to see the concept of extended producer responsibility adopted so that industry is responsible for the cost of managing packaging waste.
"Local government and the communities it serves must not wear any additional cost associated with recycling and disposing of packaging waste. We urge the ministers to:
- Clearly assign responsibility to industry to ensure that recycling targets are met and local communities, through local government, are not left to carry the can.
- Investigate alternative options to the covenant. There should be an alternative ready to go if the planned mid-term review of the new covenant in 2008 shows it is unable to meet its targets.
- Establish targets of 65% or better for recycling.
"Local government believes that the covenant is only one option available to governments and industry to pursue improved waste packaging outcomes and there are other effective mechanisms that could achieve targets of 65% or greater, Cr Bell said.
ALGA will be represented at the Environment Protection and Heritage Council meeting in Perth by Vice President, Cr Bill Mitchell.
- Contact:
- Cr Paul Bell AM, ALGA President 0418 791 596
- Rohan Greenland, ALGA Public Affairs 0412 85 9434 / 02 6122 9434
