State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on the State Government to speed up the process of installing more recycling machines after the first one opened in the Wallsend electorate.
A machine has now opened at Jesmond Shopping Centre but that is required to service the more than 80,000 residents who live in the Wallsend electorate.
Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton promised there would be 800 reverse vending machines across more than 500 collection points for the scheme, but residents across the Hunter are still unable to drop off their recyclables due to the sheer number of people using them and machines that are no longer in service due to being full every day.
The Government must fast track the rollout of these machines so that local residents are not left out of pocket for the increased costs they are paying.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton had one job, launch a scheme to help reduce litter and enable consumers to get back some of the cost – and she has failed miserably.”
“All 80,000 Wallsend residents now have only one site where they can go and get a refund on their bottles and cans.”
“But already we have seen a number of problems, with the machines having long queues, machines being out of service because they are full and piles of rubbish accumulating from people who bring their bottles and cans in plastic bags and cardboard boxes.”
“This is totally unfair to local residents, businesses and their staff across Wallsend.”
“The Government must fast track the rollout right so that, as summer and Christmas approach, family budgets aren’t slugged a few dollars on every case of beer, water or soft drink without being able to get that money back.”