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Push for national container deposit scheme

Victoria is to introduce a container deposit scheme.

Victoria is to introduce a container deposit scheme. Photo: Getty

A national container deposit scheme should be rolled out before the next federal election, an independent MP says.

Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie says Australians use more than 13 billion beverage containers a year, amounting to more than 36 million each day.

She’s calling on Tasmania and Victoria to follow other states and territories to implement the “effective and popular policy”.

“Back in 1977 when people were still wearing flares, from that time each generation of South Australian kids have been crunching cans on the pavement or under the back verandah for that extra bit of pocket money,” she told parliament on Monday.

The South Australian scheme recovered close to 587 million drink containers for recycling from 2016 to 2017. Photo: Getty

“To keep our state of South Australia clean and give back to our community.”

The scheme refunded more than $58 million and recovered close to 587 million drink containers for recycling from 2016 to 2017, the South Australian MP said.

Increased aluminium recycling would help Australia meet its Paris commitments, she added.

Tasmanian Labor MP Brian Mitchell “wholeheartedly” agrees with the proposal and said last month’s state Labor conference unanimously supported the idea.

Ms Sharkie’s call for the recycling scheme come after a parliamentary committee report recommended it as part of a plan to tackle Australia’s growing waste woes.

-AAP

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