16 July 2004 Media Advisory

National Bottle Bill Day events

Green Party Waste-free Spokesperson Mike Ward MP will be hosting the Wellington events of National Bottle Bill Day. The nationwide schedule can be found below.

Zero-waste activists and workers at the 'tip face' are concerned that the voluntary Packaged Goods Accord recently approved by the Government will not seriously reduce the amount of packaging being generated, consumed and dumped in landfills. So to raise consciousness of the issue, colourful 'National Bottle Bill Day' stalls offering a five-cent refund for recyclable containers and a petition to sign are being organised by a variety of groups in centres around the country next Wednesday.

To support this effort, two seminars featuring Peter Woods, visiting former President of the Australian Local Government Association, are being held to explain why voluntary Packaging Accords don't work and why New Zealand should follow the example set by South Australia, ten US states and Canada and bring in Container Deposit legislation. The small mandatory refundable deposit set by such 'Bottle Bill' laws lead to 80 to 90 per cent of drink containers being recovered, which in turn has led to reduced council waste disposal costs, created hundreds of new recycling jobs and practically eliminated roadside litter.

Getting serious about packaging waste: container deposit legislation seminars Featuring Peter Woods, former President of the Australian Local Government Association. Auckland - 9.30am to 12.00noon, Monday, 19 July, Mary Thomas Centre, Gibbons Rd, Takapuna. Contact: mailbox@envision-nz.com or 09 489 2129. Wellington - 10.00am to 12.00noon, Wednesday, 21 July, Beehive Theatrette, Parliament. RSVP for the Beehive seminar is essential. Contact: Laura.Beck@parliament.govt.nz or 04 470 6891.

National Bottle Bill Day stalls - all Wednesday, 21 July Kaitaia - Commerce St opp. Pak'n'Save, 12.00-2.00pm. Contact: Karen Buckingham, 09 408 1092. Keri Keri - Outside Procter Library, Cobham Rd, 12.00-2.00pm. Contact: Bronie Nichols 0274 393 194. Whangarei - Main Mall, 12.00-2.00pm. Contact: Sheryl Mai, 09 438 9091. Auckland - Aotea Square, 12.30-1.30pm. Contact: Kim Mazur, 09-361-5925. Tauranga - Local school, Contact: Bruce Trask, 07 578 7025, 0274 994 281. Te Puke - Local school, Contact: Bruce Trask, 07 578 7025, 0274 994 281. Wellington - Parliament steps, 12.30-1.30pm. Contact: Lu White, 021 234 6827. Golden Bay - Takaka Village Green, 3.00-5.00pm. Contact: Joanna Piekarski, 03 525 8448. Nelson - 284 Trafalgar St, 12.30-1.30pm. Contact: Alison Arron, 03 545 9284. Wanaka - Both Lakefront & Recycling Centre, 12.00-2.00pm. Contact: Sue Coutts, 03 443 8606. Alexandra - Block next to the Warehouse, 12.00-2.00 pm. Contact: Clair Higginson, 03 448 9948. Dunedin - Upper Octagon, 12.00-2.00pm. Contact: Megan, 03 477 8502, 021 139 5962.

Mike Ward MP, 04 470 6890, 027 265 7549 Mark Servian, Media Officer, 04 470 6723, 021 505 434

ENDS

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