Page 1628 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 May 2017

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value. If green waste gets contaminated by being mixed in with other waste streams we end up with down-cycling of resources into low grade products or the waste potentially even being returned to landfill. So the evaluation must include an assessment of the quality of the waste collected and any rates of contamination that are occurring.

The other quick remark I want to make is that as the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability I am particularly focused on the findings of the ACT waste feasibility study later this year. This is a bigger piece of work that was commissioned by me and Minister Corbell last term. It is set up to investigate how best to reduce waste generation, maximise resource recovery, minimise littering and illegal dumping and achieve a carbon neutral waste sector.

Innovative waste management solutions will be important to ensure that the ACT can achieve its waste management targets along with our commitment to have zero net emissions by 2050. That is the bigger-picture issue in this discussion. As I say, there is a lot more we could say on this but I will keep my remarks short, mindful of the hour. I move the amendment circulated in my name which goes to that important matter of the evaluation of the program:

Omit all words after (2), substitute:

“(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) continue the rollout of the green bins pilot program throughout the ACT following an evaluation of the outcomes of the Weston Creek and Kambah pilot, and release the evaluation report to the public;

(b) ensure the lessons of the evaluation and the findings of the ACT Waste Feasibility Study are used to inform the further roll out of green bins across the ACT; and

(c) continue to work towards the zero waste target in the ACT, including looking at household disposal of food waste.”.

MR STEEL (Murrumbidgee) (6.32): I would like to thank Minister Rattenbury for his amendment to my motion. I fully support looking at how we can implement the key findings of the waste feasibility study so that the ACT’s waste management is national best practice.

Amendment agreed to.

Original question, as amended, resolved in the affirmative.

Adjournment

Motion (by Mr Ramsay) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.


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