TAKE ACTION

If you are concerned about the problem of drink container litter the best action you can take is to make your political representatives aware of your concerns and bring the problem to the attention of the media.

LOCAL

Write a letter to your local paper highlighting the problem and suggest the need for Victoria to have a container deposit system. Also, ask them to do an article on the problem. Ideally this would involve a photo.

Secondly, write to your ward Councillor. Tell them that other councils have voted to support the introduction of a container deposit system. Suggest that they should do so too. In your letter focus on the fact, that the South Australian experience proves that deposit systems do not undermine kerbside recycling systems. Feel free to use or attach our 'Benefits of CDL' sheet to your letter.

STATE

The best action you can take is to get an appointment with your local member of Parliament so that you can express your concerns in person. Alternatively, write them a letter emphasising the fact that a deposit system in Victoria will not undermine our kerbside recycling system. Focus also on the CO2 and water savings that would be achieved through the introduction of a container deposit system. (See below)

A similar letter could also be sent to the Premier or the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Gavin Jennings. In all 3 cases we recommend that you are emphatic that you want a reply from them, rather than the standard reply from EPA Chairman Mick Bourke.

" Premier John Brumby, Level 1, Treasury Place, East Melbourne, Vic 2002.
" Mr Gavin Jennings MP, Minister for Environment and Climate Change. Level 22, 50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, 3000.

Emails are another alternative. Please see our list of short emails below together with the email addresses of Gavin Jennings and Premier Brumby.

FEDERAL

Write to the Federal Minister for climate change and water Penny Wong. Remind her that the 2007 Stakeholders Investigation into a best practice deposit system for Western Australia said that a deposit system there would cut CO2 emissions in WA by tens of thousands of tonnes per year and save millions of litres of water. Use this to point out the greenhouse gas savings that could be made every year if we had a national scheme or failing that, if most states had their own deposit systems.

EMAILS

John.brumby@parliament.vic.gov.au
gavin.jennings@parliament.vic.gov.au

Mr Brumby,
Would you like to reduce Victoria's CO2 emissions by tens of thousands of tonnes per year? If so, introduce Container Deposit Legislation.

Mr Jennings,
It would be easy for you to reduce Victoria's CO2 emissions by tens of thousands of tonnes per year? Just introduce a container deposit system for cans and bottles.

Mr Brumby,
Please do our environment a big favour on World Environment Day. Introduce Container Deposit Legislation.

Mr Jennings,
Give our environment a big present on World Environment Day. Please introduce Container Deposit Legislation.

Mr Brumby,
According to figures in the 2006 National Litter Index drink containers are the number one litter item by volume and the number three litter item by quantity. They are causing big problems in our environment. Please fix this problem by introducing Container Deposit Legislation.

Mr Jennings,
Did you know that figures in the 2006 National Litter Index show that drink containers are the number one litter item by volume and the number three litter item by quantity? Please fix this problem by introducing Container Deposit Legislation.

Mr Brumby,
Container Deposit Legislation equals less litter, equals more recycling, equals less damage to our environment. Please introduce CDL now!

Mr Jennings,
Drink containers are littering our beaches, bushlands, parks, roadsides and waterways. We need Container Deposit Legislation now!

Mr Brumby,
Please give the Victorian Environment a holiday from drink containers. Introduce Container Deposit Legislation now.

Mr Jennings,
A container deposit system will not undermine our kerbside recycling system. The South Australian experience proves this. We need CDL now!

Mr Brumby,
Recycling rates for drink containers outside South Australia are a disgrace. Only Container Deposit Legislation will fix this problem.

Mr Jennings,
Every year millions of drink containers take up finite landfill space and litter our environment. Please introduce CDL now.

Mr Brumby,
Your government puts a lot of emphasis on sustainability. Your government should therefore support a deposit system on drink containers because by increasing recycling it would result in more sustainable use of non renewable resources.

Mr Jennings,
A drink container deposit system will make it easy for young Australian to help their state, their country and their environment. We need CDL now!

Mr Brumby,
Our kerbside recycling system cannot capture drink containers from the 50% of beverages that are consumed away from home. That is why we need a container deposit system. As proven in South Australia it would complement our kerbside system and improve our recycling rates.

Mr Jennings,
Container Deposit systems are the only proven method of reducing drink container litter. Victoria needs CDL now.

Mr Brumby,
About 6 billion drink containers are not recycled in Australia every year. Many go to landfill or accumulate in our environment. Container Deposit Systems are the only way to fix this problem. They increase recycling, reduce CO2 emissions and do not undermine kerbside recycling.

Mr Jennings,

The Chairman of the EPA Mr Mick Bourke is critical of container deposit systems because "they only focus on one type of recyclable packaging (beverage containers)".
This comment merely confirms the fact that a suite of litter and recycling systems is essential to achieve the best possible waste reduction outcomes.
Along with kerbside, CDL would be a vital part of a future waste strategy because it does focus on beverage containers which according to figures in the 2006 National Litter Index are the number one litter item by volume and the number three litter item by quantity. For these reasons, CDL must be part of any future strategy to reduce waste and litter and to increase recycling.