Did you know that by the end of the year New South Wales will finally be joining South Australia and the Northern Territory in having a container deposit scheme?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Called the ‘Return and Earn’ scheme and commencing on 1 December 2017, it will be the largest litter reduction scheme introduced in NSW.
It is estimated that more than 500 collection points, including 800 reverse vending machines, will open across NSW to receive empty eligible containers simultaneously combating drink-container litter which makes up 44% of the volume of all litter in the state and costs more than $162 million to manage.
The Upper Hunter Shire Sustainability Advisory Committee, a committee I am privileged to chair, has started to discuss potential locations in the Shire for the ‘exchange for change’ machines which will actually give you a refund when you return eligible containers.
Over the coming weeks, there will be more information on what qualifies as an eligible container and how this scheme will work.
The Sustainability Advisory Committee has also requested that Council undertakes an energy consumption review of all of its facilities with a view to utilising alternative energy sources where opportunities present.
We are thrilled to let you know that Council will be installing solar photovoltaic panels on some of our Council-owned buildings.
Along with the energy consumption audit, the committee has also suggested that a ‘change-of-approach’ education programme is implemented to set an example for all of us on how to understand our responsibilities for what we can all do to help reduce energy use, waste and pollution, starting with Council staff across our shire.
Two of the areas highlighted as possible areas to start this necessary behavioural change education programme are, ensuring council fleet purchases meet greenhouse gas emission targets, and also encouraging sustainable transport use such as public transport, walking and cycling through council transport planning and design - both personal favourites of mine.
A big part of building a sustainable future is ensuring that interactions between the environment and organisms living in it remain continuous and renewable.
Accordingly the Council looks forward to putting the Sustainability Advisory Committee’s draft Sustainability Action Plan on display very soon for your commentary and opinion.
