The Tasmanian Greens today called for the introduction of a state wide landfill levy, to boost recycling rates and reduce the massive volume of waste that is still ending up underground.
Greens Environment spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said that while most other states already have a landfill levy in place, Tasmania remained wedded to outdated waste management practices.
“The old fashioned way to deal with waste was to just dig a big hole and bury the lot, but it’s way past time that we put this attitude behind us and modernised our waste management system. Out of sight is not out of mind,” Ms O’Connor said.
“Tasmania buries about 500,000 tons of waste every year, much of which could be recycled or diverted from landfill through a landfill levy.”
“The Environment Minister Brian Wightman needs to act, because failure to make this important investment now will only guarantee greater economic and environmental costs into the future.”
“The Hobart and Launceston City Councils, which are responsible for a significant proportion of the state’s waste, both support the establishment of a state-wide landfill levy.”
“Funds collected from the levy would be about order of $5 million per year, which could be put directly into more efficient recycling and innovative waste management projects across the state.”
“Given the scarcity of the earth’s resources we need to work toward a zero-waste society, and it’s measures like a landfill levy, a container deposit scheme and a ban on plastic bags that will put us well down that road.”
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Environment Spokesperson Tuesday, 19 June 2012
