To mark World Environment Day, the LNP has committed to a policy to address one of Queensland’s enduring environmental issues – cans and bottles littering our land and waterways and creating excess land fill issues.
Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson said the LNP would introduce a container deposit scheme (CDS) that would see Sunshine Coast consumers, businesses and charities refunded 10 cents for aluminium, glass and plastic drink containers returned for recycling.
“The LNP’s plan would help keep our beautiful environment litter free and could create hundreds of jobs across Queensland in the recycling sector,” Ms Simpson said.
“It would give local community groups the opportunity to cash in on community clean-up events for fundraising – which is a win for our environment and a win for the community too.”
According to the CSIRO (Marine Debris Report 2014), “Three quarters of the rubbish along the coast is plastic. Most is from Australian sources-not the high seas and much of the debris found included glass and plastic bottles, cans, bags and balloons.”
Shadow Environment Minister Christian Rowan said the introduction of the CDS reaffirmed the LNP’s commitment to grassroots environmental policies and would bring Queensland in line with other states across Australia.
“In states where a Container Deposit Scheme has been introduced, more than 80 per cent of consumers return containers and a 2015 Newspoll showed 85 per cent of Queenslanders supported a CDS,” said Dr Rowan.
“The LNP’s announcement should create bipartisan support for the introduction of a container deposit scheme and is a great step forward.
“There should now be no need to delay the implementation of a scheme in Queensland.”
