Jeff Angel, Director, Total Environment Centre
For too long the NSW environment and public have been the victim of the one-way container. It wastes resources and blots the landscape. It is time for local government and the community to campaign strongly for container deposit legislation.
[It's Time for Container Deposits, Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW, 1998]
Peter Garrett, President, Australian Conservation Foundation
Container deposits are a sensible and timely idea. They work well in other places so why not here? I am convinced they are a practical way of reducing the huge amounts of packaging which are a blight on our natural and built environments.
[It's Time for Container Deposits, Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW, 1998]
Australian Consumers' Association
The ACA has been advocating for well over a decade for the introduction of effective container deposit legislation across the country.
[Letter to the NSW State Waste Advisory Council, 29 March 2001]
Neil Tonkin, Chief Executive Officer, Bicycle NSW
As the peak cycling body in NSW with a memberhip of over 10,000 cyclists, Bicycle NSW is in favour of Container Deposit Legislation with a mandatory deposit and return facility. Our members do not want glass, cans etc. littering the roadsides and damaging our tyres and potentially our lives.
[Public Debate website: Container Deposits - should they be introduced Australia-wide, 5 June 2001]
Ian Kiernan AO, Chairman, Clean Up Australia
I support the reintroduction of container deposits for beverage containers. Container deposit legislation (CDL) gives containers value and therefore consumers have a vested interest in ensuring items are recycled responsibly. In turn, industry has a vested interest in ensuring that markets are developed for the material that is returned. CDL will result in benefits for the environment by reducing the incidence of beverage containers disposed as rubbish.
[It's Time for Container Deposits, Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW, 1998]
Richard Jones, MLC
It is abundantly clear that industry has no intention of meeting the waste reduction targets. I believe it is time to introduce container deposit legislation, which has been very successful in South Australia.
[It's Time for Container Deposits, Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW, 1998]
Michael Mobbs, Barrister
I support container deposit legislation because it’s the only law that really cuts down the amount of wasted glass and used containers. It works because it empowers and rewards citizens who control their own waste, instead of relying on rules, red tape and "thou shalt nots".
[It's Time for Container Deposits, Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW, 1998]
State Waste Advisory Council
The State Waste Advisory Council (SWAC) supports the introduction of Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) in New South Wales and recommends the Minister for the Environment pursue its introduction by the Government.
[SWAC resolution, 30 March 2001]
Robyn Williams, Broadcaster & Science Journalist
..... it can be good to require money to be deposited on bottles and some other containers. It does two things. First it reminds of the expense of creating the object. Secondly it makes us provide labour to help keep our environment free of rubbish. We do this as an unthinking contribution.
..... councils all over Australia have revolutionised their approach to recycling. But still the mounds grow, still the landfills brim with garbage. What we need is a substantial diminution of the load of containers coupled with a switch to industry that is truly productive of what we need. Real wealth not ephemera.
When I was small and my family was badly off I used to scour the streets of London for bottles taking them to the shops for pennies. The change mounted up and often came to enough to buy our dinner. I don't imagine that container legislation will become a branch of the economy to aid the disadvantaged but I do believe it will galvanise the young and willing who are keen for that little bit extra.
[Container Deposit Legislation for New South Wales - Bringing Back Returnables, Friends of the Earth (Sydney), December 1992]