A new and positive era of environmental policy has arrived with the passing of the Product Stewardship Bill by both Houses of Parliament in Canberra on 22nd March 2011. The Product Stewardship Bill 2011 will provide unprecedented powers to ensure that the recycling of TVs and computers is mandated on a national basis. PSA is the peak environmental body representing TV manufacturers, and has been focused on the need for Commonwealth regulation for several years.
After many years advocating for ‘best practice’ regulation and delivering successful pilot projects, the TV and ICT industries welcome the Bill and congratulate the Government and Parliament on this significant reform. The first sectors to drive this new age of action on product take-back and recycling are the TV and ICT industries. With funding and implementation to come from TV and computer manufacturers and suppliers, Australia is now well on the path to a national collection, recycling and community education initiative. A copy of the joint PSA-AIIA media statement welcoming the Legislation is available here.
The passage of the Bill enables TVs and computers that would otherwise be lost to landfill and illegal dumping to be recycled. The majority of materials in these obsolete products can be recycled and re-processed for use in the manufacture of new goods. Industry’s efforts to collect and recycle obsolete TVs will now be facilitated through the Product Stewardship Legislation which will divert thousands of TVs from landfill every year. Within the context of the Product Stewardship Legislation, a co-regulatory approach will ensure that no manufacturer or supplier of new TV and computer equipment can avoid their collection and recycling obligations.
A joint industry-Government Implementation Working Group (IWG) is currently developing targets for collection and recycling, environmental standards, community education plans and public reporting requirements. For more information about the IWG, visit the Australian Government's eWaste web portal.
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