It was great to hear at the weekend that a re-elected Liberals and Nationals government will introduce reverse vending machines across the state as part of a cost-effective container deposit scheme for the recycling of drink containers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Reverse vending machines will be introduced by July 1 2017 to help communities look after their local environment by being better equipped to tackle litter and increase recycling.
Reverse vending machines will be installed in the Orange electorate - offering our communities the opportunity to be rewarded for contributing to positive environmental outcomes.
We will be consulting with the community on the key aspects of the scheme, including incentives for the community to participate in the scheme, location of vending machines and the role that local councils and the recycling industry will play in the scheme.
The NSW Liberals and Nationals government have the ambitious goal of having the lowest litter rate in the nation and a container deposit scheme will be a crucial element in achieving that goal.
o o o
The Premier's Volunteer Recognition Program was launched last week - an initiative to enable local communities to formally acknowledge the contributions made by outstanding volunteers.
We are inviting people to nominate adult volunteers for local recognition, with nominations now open.
Presentations in the first round of Premier's recognition certificates will be made during National Volunteer Week in May.
Volunteers provide 240 million hours of support in NSW each year, which is worth around $5 billion to our economy.
The program involves six categories:
o Students age up to 14 years or end of Year 9 (criteria: 3 months regular volunteering and minimum of 13 hours in one year)
o Students age 15 years or end of Year 10 (criteria: 6 months regularvolunteering and minimum of 26 hours in one year)
o Students age 16 years or end of Year 11 (criteria: 12 months regular volunteering and minimum of 52 hours in one year)
o Volunteering effort by those up to 40 years of age
o People with more than 25 years of volunteering experience
o People with more than 40 years of volunteering experience.
The program includes three categories for school students up to 16 years old, as well for young adults and lifetime contributors.
Schools interested in participating in the program can register through NSW Volunteering. Web tools are available for students to track their hours and to create a resume of their volunteering.
Student recognition certificates will be presented at the end of 2015.
To nominate a volunteer for recognition or to find more about the Premier's Volunteer Recognition Program please visit: http://www.volunteering.nsw.gov.au.