Concern about glass litter

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33520, 29 April 1974, Page 14

Concern about glass litter

The Government is not convinced that higher deposits on bottles would solve the problem of glass litter.

Speaking at the opening of the annual conference of the Soft Drink and Cordial Manufacturers’ Association in Christchurch last evening, Mr Mac Donnell, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Trade and Industry, said that the Government was aware and concerned that it was difficult to dispose of some types of empty bottles.

"We are also concerned that the brunt of the existing returns systems appears to fall on the smaller retailers, who are not always in a position to carry the high cost of handling the many and varied types of bottles. There has built up a reluctance on the part of some retailers to handle returns,” he said.

Re-using and recycling glass was not a new idea but there was reason now to look carefully at existing arrangements for the return of emptv bottles to ensure that the maximum numbers of bottles were returned, either for reuse or for recycling, said Mr MacDonell.

“I know that both the ques-

tion of deposits and of the present refund system is of concern to you and has received your own attention.

particularly Since both have an influence on the litter problem. You should look at what new possibilities exist for co-operation with the organisations involved with litter and recycling. The Government would be sympathetic to your ideas and vour suggestions,” said Mr MacDonell. He said that the glass industry was doing its part in increasing the amounts of cullet available for recycling.