NEWS DESK
Recycling scheme’s unhappy returns
Proudly published by Mornington Peninsula News Group Pty. Ltd
PHONE: 03 5974 9000
Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au
Published weekly
Circulation: 19,870
Audit period: Oct 2018 - Mar 2019
Source: AMAA; CAB Total Distribution Audit for further information visit auditedmedia.org.au
Journalists: Keith Platt, Liz Bell, Brodie Cowburn Ph: 5974 9000. Email: team@mpnews.com.au Photographers: Gary Sissons, Yanni Advertising Sales: Bruce Stewart 0409 428 171 Real Estate Account Manager: Andy Jukes 0431 950 685 Production/Graphic design: Marcus Pettifer, Dannielle Espagne Group Editor: Keith Platt Publisher: Cameron McCullough REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Craig MacKenzie, Peter McCullough, Stuart
McCullough.
ADDRESS: Mornington Peninsula News Group PO Box 588 Hastings 3915 Email: team@mpnews.com.au Web: mpnews.com.au DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 1PM ON THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2023 NEXT ISSUE PUBLICATION DATE: TUESDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2023
An independent voice for the community We are the only locally owned and operated community newspaper on the Mornington Peninsula. We are dedicated to the belief that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community. We exist to serve residents, community groups and businesses and ask for their support in return.
THE start of the much-hyped container deposit scheme on 1 November has highlighted flaws in the program and drawn criticism from environment groups and the state opposition. The state government financed scheme provides a 10-cent refund for returned eligible cans, cartons and bottles, and has been promoted as an important component of the recycling system and a way to cut litter. But by the second day of the trial, some container bins on the Mornington Peninsula were too full to receive any more due to members of the public loading them up with cans they had been saving. There have also been reports across Victoria of machines in car parks not working, and locations for drop off sites disappearing off the state website. According to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, which does not run the scheme, there are 12 collection sites, including reverse vending machines, drop off depots and over-the-counter points across the shire. On the peninsula, the scheme is being delivered by network operator Return-It, with unbroken cans, bottles and cartons being accepted. Glass wine bottles, milk cartons, and bottles containing cordial or concentrated fruit juice are not accepted. There is growing concern that Victorians will turn away from the scheme unless problems are resolved quickly. When the scheme was announced
THE reverse vending machine at Sages Cottage in Bater was full by Thursday, two days after installation, and unable to accept more containers. Picture: Gary Sissons by the state government, environmental advocate the Boomerang Alliance said it needed to be “best scheme maximising recycling; with great convenience for consumers who want to redeem their 10 cents and a credible governance system”. But it says the scheme is disappointing, with not enough refund points and differences in the quality and convenience of the small number of points. The alliance says that container deposit schemes are in place in more than 40 countries or states around the world, with the best ones demonstrating a more than 95 per cent return rate. Opposition spokesman for the envi-
ronment James Newbury said the roll out of the collection points was a massive let down for Victorians who had waited years for Labor to introduce a working container deposit scheme “only to find out the state government has stuffed it up”. “Acknowledging the chaos, environmental advocates, including the Boomerang Alliance, have called for a delay in the scheme’s commencement as government is not ready to manage the estimated three billion eligible beverages consumed in Victoria each year,” he said. The state government says it requires operators to establish more deposit points over the next 12 months.
MENTAL HEALTH SAFETY NET
7.30am Friday 24 November 2023 Mornington Golf Club
GOLF DAY partnered by
SMART BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
Tallis Drive, Mornington
Register at mhsngolf2023.raisely.com PAGE 8
Mornington News
14 November 2023
