Appearing today before a Senate Committee into waste management, Visy has reiterated its support for new policies aimed at increasing recycling, including the coverage of landfill waste under the emissions trading scheme (ETS).
Visy believes there are major opportunities for additional investment in resource recovery and recycling in areas such as wood residue, waste paper, plastics, glass and metals.
Policy makers need to consider that recycling is a legitimate greenhouse gas abatement activity which avoids waste being disposed of to landfill.
"Landfill waste should be a covered sector under the ETS, with recycling activity counting as an offset and tradable credit," says Tony Gray, Visy’s Director of Sustainability.
"Such recognition would have a positive effect on the level of recycling, with the offset credits being designed in such a way that they accrue not only to the recycler, but also to the waste generators and others in the supply chain."
Visy was also asked by the committee for its views on the National Container Deposit Bill, proposed by Family First Senator, Steve Fielding.
Mr Gray told the committee that although Visy fully supports the need to address the issue of dealing with away from home packaging waste, it does not believe the introduction of a national drink container deposit scheme would achieve the desired outcomes of reduced litter and increase recycling.
"The evidence is inconclusive and it could also potentially have a negative impact on kerbside recycling," Gray says.
However, Visy also noted that if a deposit scheme were to be introduced, then it strongly believes Senator Fielding’s legislation provides the most appropriate framework for the operation of such a scheme, both in respect to cost effectiveness for industry and appropriate consultation with stakeholders, including consumers.
"If there is to be a container deposit scheme then it will work best if a broad range of materials is included — not just drink containers but chip packets, take-away food packaging, ice cream wrappers and other packaging. It will ensure greater recycling of a wider range of materials and encourage more environmentally and economically beneficial collection,” Gray says.
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