TASMANIAN Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson visited the Tweed on Thursday to support Richmond Greens candidate Dawn Walker and promote the cash-for-container scheme.
The South Australian cash for container scheme or 'container deposit program' has achieved up to an 84% recycling rate on all beverage containers consumed, the highest recycling rate in Australia.
Senator Whish-Wilson said NSW could learn from South Australians and said the Greens were confident a national scheme could be funded entirely from private investment, and run efficiently at a much lower cost than existing schemes.
He launched a local cash-for-container scheme at Little Howrah Beach near Hobart in May.
"To prove just how effective these schemes are, I'm going to run a series of clean-ups around Tasmania, and donate 10 cents per can, plastic or glass bottle that community groups throw into my mobile recycling trailer," Senator Whish-Wilson said.
"It makes so much sense," he said while visiting Kingscliff Beach.
"Economically and in terms of jobs it's a positive move.
"It's absolutely a no brainer, it's black and white."
Marine Action Conservation Society (MACS) founder Michael Manley said a cash-for-container scheme in the Tweed would help to get rubbish off beaches.
"Hopefully people will think twice before throwing containers on the beaches if they can convert their rubbish into cash, or collect it and gain cash," he said.
Ms Walker said she fully supported the concept and welcomed the introduction of the program into the Richmond electorate.
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