5 April 2006

EMA on the money on waste levy - Greens

News that the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) would be willing to support a national levy on landfill waste if it was used solely for the purpose of waste minimisation has been welcomed by Green Party Spokesperson on Waste Nandor Tanczos.

The Northern branch of the EMA indicated today that, unlike a local levy proposed by four local government authorities recently rejected by a court decision, a national waste levy would be acceptable to its members.

"I am pleased that the EMA have indicated their willingness to support such a measure. The Green Party are in full agreement that a waste levy needs to be a national measure, not a means of providing another income stream for local councils," Mr Tanczos says.

"The EMA's statement that a waste levy would have to be used for a direct waste minimisation and research fund is one I totally agree with. We need to start investing in both facilities and generating and supporting markets for reused and recycled products. The kind of levy that the EMA is talking about would help that.

"The EMA will be pleased to know that I have a Private Member's Bill that addresses this issue in the ballot. My Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill seeks to establish exactly the kind of levy the EMA have indicated they would support.

"My Bill would also set targets and deadlines for the reduction in the amount of waste disposed of in landfills, prohibit the disposal of certain classes of material, require extended producer responsibility programmes and organisational waste minimisation plans, and require public procurement policies to spur the development of markets for products and services which result in waste reduction.

"I welcome the EMA's comments today, and hope that we will sometime soon be working together to successfully implement a national levy on landfill waste," Mr Tanczos says.

ENDS

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