press release: CommunityAction for People & Planet
22/08/05 for immediate release.

Drink Bottle Deposit Petition Well Received at Nelson's EcoFest

444 visitors to this weekend's Ecofest in Nelson signed a petition launched at the event calling for the Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council to support bottle deposit legislation.

"Glass recycling isn't viable anymore, and local authorities are bearing the brunt. Bottle deposits offer a commonsense solution to the problem of growing glass mountains". said Duncan Eddy, coordinator of Motueka community group CommunityAction for People and Planet.

"It wasn't so long ago that reusable bottles could be returned for a few cents at retail outlets. If this system had been retained, the current glass recycling crisis would never have happened."

*Wording of the petition:

Bring Back Deposits On Drink Bottles

To: Tasman District Council & Nelson City Council.

-we, the undersigned, urge our local elected representatives to advocate for bottle deposits as a solution to local government's glass recycling problems.

-we request that both councils seek backing for this initiative from Local Government New Zealand & encourage Environment & Local Government Ministers to enact bottle deposit legislation.

ENDS