Greens 10c deposit proposal

The Greens MPs in Victoria are coordinating a campaign to support their proposal for 10c return for recyclable drink containers, you know the cans and bottles that can be recycled. It’s a sensible piece of legislation and needs the support of the community to shift the Premier and the Environment Minister. And remarkably for many, like myself, it’s like a blast from the past; no-one knows exactly when or why the deposit scheme was abandoned.

The Greens want to introduce legislation for a 10c returnable deposit on all disposable drink containers in Victoria. This would lift recycling rates to 80%, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, eliminate 25% of all litter and offer councils and community groups a valuable new source of income.

The legislation aims to give people the choice as to whether to return their empty container to a nearby depot, or donate it to their local council via the existing kerbside recycling system. It will be a return to the days when community groups, scout groups and sports clubs raised funds by collecting empties and returning them for the deposit. I remember the days when some community groups would even run a profit for a collection depot.

According to the Greens the depots are the old bins but can be as small as a “reverse vending machine” (put in an empty container, collect 10c). This means that there could be depots everywhere and definitely would be handy to put them along side drink vending machines.

During the year, Colleen Hartland (Western Metro Region/Greens) will release a report that shows how much money would be saved by local councils and shires across Victoria when she’ll introduce the legislation to the Victorian Parliament.

But the Greens are facing an up-hill battle to get the Bill through Parliament. The Government’s Environment Minister has already indicated his opposition to container deposit legislation.

Environment Victoria Update

The Federal Government’s so-called Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS)

The Rudd Government promised Australians so much on climate change. However the CPRS, their central climate change policy, looks set to deliver so little. The proposed targets of 5-15% emissions reductions are unscientific, inadequate and destructive to global negotiations to secure a safe climate future. Furthermore carve-outs and loop holes for the big polluters mean that it is possible that Australia’s emissions will actually rise under the CRPS. The CRPS also destroys all incentives for individuals and communities to reduce emissions and become more sustainable.  In its current form the CPRS cannot be supported by Environment Victoria.

Environment Victoria will be campaigning for the ALP go back to the drawing board on the CPRS to get it right.

We will send you more information in the coming weeks about how you can get involved.  We’ll be campaigning outside MP’s offices, running outreach campaigns throughout key electorates, and working to ensure that Australia is a part of the solution on climate change.

To find out how you can get more involved in this campaign keep an eye out for the next e-bulletin, or email Victoria@envict.org.au.

Brumby Government’s Solar Feed-In Tariff exposed as a dud

The Brumby Government’s proposed solar feed-in laws have been under attack from environment and community groups, unions, and businesses since they were announced in April 2008. A recent The Age newspaper investigation unearthed Cabinet documents that revealed that the proposed solar laws have also been under attack within the Brumby Government, and that Departmental advice to Government was ignored in the decision-making. Importantly the documents showed that claims that a German-style solar feed-in tariff would cost households up to $100 per year were fabricated, and were not supported by Cabinet submissions or economic modeling.

See our summary of what the leaked cabinet documents found.

These findings leave the credibility of the Brumby Government’s proposed scheme in tatters.  But it’s not too late for a real solar feed-in tariff to help get solar panels on roofs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide clean green jobs for Victorians.  Premier Brumby still has a chance to get it right, and make sure that Victorians are seeing all of the benefits that solar power can offer.  Please write to your local State MP, Minister Batchelor and Premier Brumby to show your support for a real solar feed-in tariff, and the associated green jobs for Victoria.

Want to know more? Find out about feed-in tariffs, why they are so important and how you can get involved here.

See The Age news coverage on the leaked documents and the dire state of our solar industry here.

Sustainable Living Festival

The Sustainable Living Festival is on again this weekend at Melbourne’s Federation Square.  The festival is a three day celebration of cultural innovation and creativity.  With displays, demonstrations, films and exhibits there is sure to be something for everyone.

Don’t miss Environment Victoria’s presentations at the Think Tent throughout the festival.

Friday 20th Feb: 3.00pm – Multicultural Youth Leadership in Sustainability – Murray Irwin, Project Manager

Saturday 21st Feb: 1.00pm – Secure Water, Healthy Rivers:  Environment Victoria’s Vision for Melbourne – Leonie Duncan, Healthy Rivers Campaigner

Sunday 22nd Feb: 11am – Turning it around: Halving Victoria’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2020 – Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director

For more information about the Sustainable Living Festival go to www.slf.org.au/festival

Climate Action Summit

Tomorrow is a big day of action for the climate

The Climate Summit is on tomorrow.

Come along and join hands as we encircle Parliament on its first sitting day of the year. Australians want a safe climate future – let’s show the government we want action in 2009!

Get the full details about the Summit here.