RECYCLING

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:21): My question is directed to the Minister for Environment and Conservation. What is the government doing to ensure that South Australia's community continues to lead the nation in recycling activity?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (14:21): Thank you—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, and I thank the member for her question; and, of course, I also acknowledge the great numbers of people she sends through to my office on matters that relate to recycling, and I very much appreciate that.

I can advise the house that the latest South Australian recycling industry figure shows that 2.76 million tonnes of material was diverted during 2009-10. During this time waste accepted by South Australian landfills decreased to 1.04 million tonnes. These factors have combined to increase the diversion rate for South Australia to 72.7 per cent, up from 70.4 per cent in the previous year—the highest value recorded—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left, be quiet!

The Hon. P. CAICA: —by this recycling activity survey since it commenced in 2003-04. The total estimated greenhouse gas savings from recycling in South Australia during 2009-10 is about one million tonnes of carbon dioxide. That is a greenhouse gas saving of approximately 1.5 million trees that would have had to be planted to absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide.

The Hon. I.F. Evans: How much methane is associated with it?

The Hon. P. CAICA: The more that we divert with respect to organics, mate—are you one of those who say that we should be putting organics into landfill? Sorry, Madam Speaker, I apologise for my unruliness. However, Madam Speaker—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Well, I have. I have apologised, which you should try to do more often. Against these excellent figures, the placement of unsuitable materials in our recycling and green organics bins remains a problem for many councils' recycling and composting facilities. To help address this issue, the South Australian government is helping to enhance householders' awareness and understanding of recycling at the kerbside.

The Recycle Right campaign will help to improve householders' knowledge and remind them of what is and what is not suitable to be placed into the kerbside recycling and green organics. I will say this: this campaign will also provide information on the correct preparation of items before they are placed in the recycling bin, for example, rinsing containers, removing lids from bottles and scraping food remnants from pizza boxes—very important.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: So you don't support these initiatives?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: No, what you do is recycle deputy leaders.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: The first stage of the Recycle Right campaign—we could learn from the opposition about recycling, there's no doubt about it—during October will focus on messages to improve householder use and reduce contamination in the green organics bin. The second stage of this campaign will focus on the recycling bin during December to tie in with increased packaging in the lead-up to Christmas.

The Recycle Right campaign has been developed in collaboration with the Local Government Association of South Australia, Visy recycling and waste industry stakeholders, including, of course, Compost SA and will be important to supplement and improve current recycling knowledge and behaviour leading to even further improvements in this important area in our state. Despite some of the heckling from members of the opposition, I know that they understand that South Australia is a leader in all matters of recycling and reuse.

Ms Chapman: In radioactive waste!

The Hon. P. CAICA: The last time I remember—and it was a debate back in 2005 or thereabouts—it was the opposition that was arguing in support of prime minister Howard's location of a radioactive waste dump here in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! If members want to have a conversation, they can go outside the chamber. Member for Little Para.