Time to Clean up Burke’s Backyard with National Container Deposit Scheme

Australian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson and representatives from the Kicking the Can group today travelled by boat up Cooks River in Sydney to witness first-hand the horrific amount of litter pouring into this iconic waterway from suburbs in the electorate of Watson, held by Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke.

Senator Whish Wilson, stated, “If Tony Burke could have seen what I saw today, he would be truly appalled and disgusted with the amount of bottle and can rubbish in his own backyard.

“He has the power to stand up to the likes of Coke and fix this problem once and for all with a container deposit system.

“It would be a proud legacy for Minister Burke to give Australia a national container deposit system that delivers jobs, investment and environmental outcomes.

“Australians would thank him for it, and I would be the first to call and congratulate him.”

Tim Silverwood, co-founder of Take 3, who was also onboard, explained that, “The plastic we saw today travels from the streets and parks of the environment minister’s electorate, into the Cooks River and then on to Botany Bay and out to sea.

“It will remain in the world’s oceans for hundreds of years.

“We inspected two different types of litter traps today — one so choked as to be ineffective and the other that had missed catching any litter at all.

“No other system, including traps and bins, can address an issue as profligate as beverage container litter. The only systematic, nationwide approach that has been successful elsewhere is container deposits.”

Australian environment ministers from all states meet tomorrow in Auckland and will discuss container deposit systems.

The Boomerang Alliance’s policy advisor, Dave West, stated, “The time has come for them to stop ‘kicking the can’ on this issue and make a firm commitment to introduce a national container deposit system.”

West called on concerned members of the community to visit the Kicking the Can website at www.kickingthecan.org.au and add their voices to the 300,000 Australians who have already called for a national container deposit system.
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson