Landmark agreement sheds light on future of e-waste recycling

Television and computer manufacturers that import products to Australia may soon have to join a national electronic waste (e-waste) recycling scheme, if the federal government decides to implement a new recycling model backed by environment and industry groups.

Environment Victoria, the Total Environment Centre (TEC), Product Stewardship Australia (PSA) and recyclers MRI and Sims agreed to support the model because it was simple to implement, applied to everyone and would help stop e-waste from going to landfill.

The Customs Import Model was one of nine options put forward by the federal government in its recently released Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) for televisions and computers.

Environment Victoria’s campaigner Fraser Brindley said the new system would be no trouble at all for consumers and would mean most of the 16.8 million computers and TVs thrown away each year would be recycled.

“Instead of dumping old or broken TVs and computers on the nature strip, consumers will be able to drop off their e-waste at specialised recycling depots,” he said.

Senior Vice President of SIMS Recycling Kumar Radhakrishnan said a choice modelling study showed there was strong community support for an e-waste recycling scheme.

“The study shows the community wants an e-waste recycling system and is willing to pay for it,” he said.

“And now that green groups and industry have reached a point of consensus on the recycling model and made the necessary investments, the government must act immediately and put the legislation in place.”

Executive Director of the Total Environment Centre Jeff Angel said the agreement between green groups and industry was a very significant moment for e-waste recycling.

“This is a watershed moment where Australians' love of technology crosses paths with its love of the environment,” he said.

“A truly effective recycling scheme means tagging imports for e-waste recycling rather than buying electronic goods and then dumping them as toxic products. It's simple to do and it is supported by both green groups and industry.”

Managing Director of MRI Will Le Messurier said the introduction of a comprehensive television and computer recycling scheme would lead to the creation of hundreds of jobs.

“E-waste recycling is a complex and high-tech process that requires skilled labour to extract valuable and rare resources that would otherwise end in landfill,” he said.

“A television and computer recycling scheme will be a winner for both jobs and the environment.”

John Gertsakis, Executive Officer from Product Stewardship Australia, a not-for-profit industry body representing major televisions brands, said TV suppliers had made significant commitments to implementing a national TV recycling scheme.

“The time has come for the federal government to match the commitments of TV suppliers with intelligent regulation that enables cost-effective environmental outcomes,” he said.