WA companies and local authorities urged to follow Visy lead

15/6/00

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes hopes the support of the National Packaging Covenant by recycled packaging company Visy Industries will influence Western Australian companies and local authorities to follow suit.
Visy Industries is the official provider of packaging and recycling services to the Sydney Olympic Games, and the first company to release an action plan under the National Packaging Covenant.
Mrs Edwardes said Visy Industries' commitment to the covenant would encourage more companies and local authorities to take responsibility for the impact on the environment caused by product packaging.
"The National Packaging Covenant is designed to enlist producers and handlers of packaging to the fight for a better environment," she said.
"Supporters to the covenant make a commitment to direct the packaging they produce or manage into reuse and recycling.
"Visy's role at the Olympics is a great opportunity to send a clear message to the nation that responsible management of packaging is good corporate citizenship, and in line with community expectations of the companies that produce packaging and the local authorities that receive it at land fills."
Mrs Edwardes said about 60 companies and local authorities nationally had pledged support to the National Packaging Covenant since it was established in July 1999.
However, no WA-based companies or local authorities had signed up.
"The WA Government supports the National Packaging Covenant through the Waste Management and Recycling Fund, which collects about $4.2 million annually from land fill levies," the Minister said.
"More than $1.7 million over three years has been allocated from the fund to help establish programs under the covenant in WA."
Financial commitments by State and Territory Governments have been matched by the packaging industry nationally, to the value of $17.45 million.
These funds are available to companies and local authorities to cover transition costs towards implementing strategies and initiatives under the National Packaging Covenant.
Media contact: Steve Manchee on 9421 7777