The Community Action Party is committed to reducing the amount of waste generated by the ACT government, businesses, and residents.
The ACT Government launched a 'no waste' strategy in 1996, with the admirable aim of eliminating waste going to landfill by 2010 through a program of re-use, recycling, and 'zero waste' of resources. Despite genuine community support for the policy and significant progress, the target was not achieved. It is currently under review, but in effect has been pushed back to 2025 at the earliest. Meanwhile, the amount of waste going to landfill has not significantly decreased since 2005.
The Party will work with communities, organisations and governments to develop a practical strategy for decisively reducing waste in the workplace, school, environment, and home.
'No waste' initiatives
The Party will ensure that government leads the way in reducing waste in the ACT through increased support for the 'No Waste' unit, and better waste avoidance practices by ACT Government departments.
The Party considers waste to be a resource and will support research into ways to economically recycle 'difficult' materials.
The Party will develop a strategy for waste avoidance and minimisation by government, industry and households in the ACT in collaboration with these groups.
The Party will work with non-profit organisations to ensure that they are offered appropriate assistance to facilitate the reuse of unwanted goods.
The Party supports the rapid introduction of an organic waste recycling service ('green bins') to all suburbs, while actively encouraging those with gardens to do their own composting.
The Party will investigate ways of increasing the level of recycling by households that are part of multi-unit developments.
The Party supports a cloth nappy rebate scheme modelled on those currently operating in the UK and New Zealand, with the aim of reducing the use of disposable nappies, which make up 7.6% of domestic waste in the ACT.
The Party will develop a program to assist ACT business to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill from that sector.
Regulation
The Party supports the continuation of current restrictions on the provision of disposable plastic bags.
The Party supports strict enforcement of regulations and heavy penalties for those responsible for illegal pollution or dumping of waste materials in the ACT.
The Party supports the strict enforcement of regulations on 'junk mail'.
The Party supports mandatory reporting of emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants associated with energy use.
The Party will support strong measures to deter the inappropriate disposal and dumping of toxic waste in the ACT.
Education
The Party supports the extension of the 'Actsmart' program to every school in the ACT.
The Party supports public education programs that promote re-use, recycling, and 'no waste' of resources in the ACT, including the introduction of a 'No Waste Week'.