Adele Carles, Greens MLA for Fremantle delivered a message in a bottle to Environment Minister Peter Garrett from Australians who want, and are willing to pay for, a national container deposit scheme.

The petition calling for a national container deposit scheme, containing well over 2000 signatures, was presented to Minister Garrett at the Environment Protection and Heritage Council meeting in Perth on November 5.

The Australian Greens were disappointed that the meeting decided to delay any announcement of a national scheme. However we will continue to push for a widely-supported, national drink container deposit and recycling scheme.

Now is the time to keep the pressure on the Minister: write a letter to Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

Every year, Australians use and throw about 11 billion drink containers.

A 10 cent levy on all recyclable containers will be good for the environment and the economy, with research showing that a national container deposit scheme will:

• Cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a million tonnes a year - like switching 135,000 homes to 100% renewable energy
• Save enough water to supply more than 30,000 Australian homes
• Improve air quality equivalent to taking 56,000 cars off the road
• Significantly reduce litter
• Create 1000 direct jobs in a sustainable industry

A Newspoll found that 90% of people want this scheme, as do some of the major industry players including Alcoa, Sita Environmental Solutions, Revive Recycling and Eco-Waste.

Help us send the government a ‘message in a bottle': write a letter to Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett and the Environment Minister in your state.