A former Wagga councillor has expressed concern over the state government’s container deposit scheme (CDS) just one week out from their delivery deadline.
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A reverse vending machine is currently under construction at the Gurwood Street Woolworths however some residents including Wagga accountant, Spiros Stathis, believe there’s little cause for celebration.
“Call me a doomsayer but I don’t think the system will be ready,” Mr Stathis said.
Mr Stathis served on council for four years in the 1980s and has been doggedly pursuing state government officials for clarity around the subject.
His verdict isn’t pretty.
“The government has looked at the South Australian system and completely ignored it,” Mr Stathis said.
“How will all these little areas like Junee, Coolamon and Narranderra be supported?”
Duty MLC for Wagga Wagga, Daniel Mookhey, condemned the scheme in a media statement but failed to identify the North Wagga Woolworths vending machine as a confirmed collection point.
Under the scheme, which is due to begin on December 1, 2017, consumers are eligible for a 10 cent refund by exchanging certain containers at designated collection points around the state.
Most beverage containers between 150mL and 3L in volume will be eligible and 425 collection points are expected to be operational within seven days.
Wagga mayor Greg Conkey said he was uncertain as to whether Wagga would receive additional vending machines but confirmed council would begin talks with Kurrajong Recycling regarding curbside waste collection.
“As previously stated, council does not have a role in setting this particular system up,” he said.
“However we will be talking with Kurrajong as to how we may manage curbside waste collection.”
Kurrajong manager Tim Macgillycuddy said there was provision to share recycling revenue from curbside collections with council.
“If we do so, we could ensure money stays locally and is redistributed into the community, not to an external international provider,” he said.
“People can feel as though they’re making a contribution by putting appropriate waste in recycling bins and having the money go back into the community via Kurrajong,” he said.
Mr Macgillycuddy said there would be no decision rushed before Kurrajong enters into a new waste contract with council in April next year.