Our Recycling Is Rubbish: Kiernan

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday March 5, 2007

Wendy Frew Environment Reporter

AN ESTIMATED 1 million people scoured land and water yesterday to clean up the waste clogging bushland, rivers and creeks, in the 18th Clean Up Australia Day.

Community support for the clean up remained strong with over 8000 tonnes of rubbish collected by about 7000 volunteers.

However, the event's founder, Ian Kiernan, said it was disappointing the six out of the 10 most common types of rubbish found each year could be recycled, including drink cans and bottles.

For that reason, Clean Up Australia was lobbying the NSW Government for a deposit of 10 cents on plastic drink bottles and aluminium cans.

It had also asked the Federal Government and the public to do more to tackle climate change.

Mr Kiernan said: "Eighteen years after Clean Up Australia Day started because of a need to tackle pollution problems, the even greater challenge of climate change is now driving volunteers to act year-round to not just reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions but demonstrate in huge numbers to government the need for stronger action."

The group had asked all its volunteers to pledge to cut their household greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 per cent each year for the next three years by doing things such as buying 100 per cent green energy, driving a hybrid car or using energy-efficient lighting.

Mr Kiernan also wants the Federal Government to increase its target for renewable energy to 10 per cent, from 2 per cent, by 2010. "If the community is prepared to make a commitment then it is also important that government takes more action. Greater investment in renewable energy technologies would be a win-win for Australia's economy and environment."

In a separate announcement, the federal Minister for the Environment, Malcolm Turnbull, said the Commonwealth would send a pamphlet to all homes about climate change and energy efficiency, at a cost of $52.8 million. The Greens senator Christine Milne described it as election-year propaganda.