Page 534 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 June 1989
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We need to consider all these matters through integrated waste management systems which aim to ensure waste minimisation and recycling and to improve the efficiency and flexibility of transport and collection services. In short, we need a cradle-to grave approach to the management of solid wastes. We need to consider whether manufacturers of packaging should accept a continued responsibility for their products after they are sold. I believe they do.
There is an argument that the waste service should be financed on a user pays basis and that prices charged for disposal should reflect the actual cost involved in providing the service, including site rehabilitation and replacement. The cost of cleaning up litter also needs to be added to this bill. Better facilities need to be introduced to reduce litter in public places, such as shopping centres, major roads, and suburban streets. The packaging industry is largely responsible for products which find their way into the litter stream and it must play its part in addressing the litter problem. Let us not let State boundaries inhibit our action.
The container deposit legislation in South Australia has been very effective, both on litter control and encouraging recycling. Yesterday I mentioned that education played a large part in what happens in the community and we must use that resource in the control of litter. In particular the attitudes that are inculcated at school are very important indeed.
The development of new technologies for the automated collection of domestic garbage has addressed occupational health and safety issues involved in this work. There are many examples throughout Australia where councils have implemented collection systems with acceptance by residents and unions, which will afford longer-term efficiencies.
We must implement sound, long-term plans to minimise waste generation, to maximise recycling and to dispose of what cannot be recycled in an environmentally safe manner and at a cost that we can afford. Until quite recently not many people gave a thought to the level or consequences of our twentieth century wastes, but over the past few years attitudes have been changing.
The focus of attention has tended to be toxic waste and clinical waste and there are a number of initiatives either already taken or about to be taken on such problems. We now need to turn our attention to municipal and commercial wastes. Even more worrying than the actual amount of waste reduced is the fact that each year we are producing more waste, both in total and per capita.
The problem is many-faceted. The precious natural resources and energy are being needlessly wasted. We are all now aware of the need to stop the loss of the forests. The potential negative environmental impacts of waste are
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