A FORMER Warrnambool man believes a 10 cent payment for bottles and cans will help address the state's recycling woes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Travis Beauchamp is part of campaign – The Big Bottle Tour – to encourage the state government to introduce a similar refund scheme to NSW. The tour is organised by the Boomerang Alliance.
He wants to bring the campaign and its three metre coke bottle to the south-west in a bid to get others to support the initiative.
“I’ve been collecting cans since a young age,” Mr Beauchamp said.
“We think this will reduce litter and keep cans and bottles out of landfill.”
Mr Beauchamp said the government should seriously consider introducing a scheme, particularly in the wake of China’s foreign waste ban.
“It’s a simple solution that would solve a lot of problems,” he said.
Mr Beauchamp hopes to visit schools and get local councillors and groups on board with the statewide tour.
He urged people to visit the campaign Facebook page and support the bid to get the giant coke bottle on the road.
The goal is to travel to regional areas, including Warrnambool, in late March or early April.
Mr Beauchamp said campaign members will also conduct clean-ups along the way, collecting cans and bottles to fill up the giant coke bottle in tow.
These items will be delivered to Premier Daniel Andrews’ office at the end of the tour.
Mr Beauchamp said NSW, the Northern Territory and South Australia had schemes in place.