Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Have your say on landmark product stewardship legislation
Media release
11 November 2010
You are invited to have your say on landmark Commonwealth legislation which will provide a foundation for recycling schemes across the country.
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is inviting groups and individuals interested in waste to provide comment on the new consultation paper on the proposed product stewardship legislation.
The product stewardship legislation is a key component of the National Waste Policy, which was agreed to by all Commonwealth, state and territory environment ministers late last year.
The legislation will provide industry, government and community with a consistent approach to reducing hazards, avoiding waste and encouraging the recycling of products and materials.
The legislation will allow industry, government and the community to recover valuable resources from used products and materials that might otherwise be sent to landfill.
The proposed legislation outlined in the consultation paper, has the flexibility to efficiently deal with a broad range of products, and will provide a framework for establishing product stewardship schemes.
The first products to be covered under the legislation will be televisions and computers, under the planned National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
The paper also provides details about how the legislation will encourage voluntary schemes through accreditation, as well as describing the conditions under which identified products that meet key criteria, like televisions and computers, would be regulated.
Product stewardship schemes provide an avenue for all parties involved in the development, manufacture and sale of goods, and consumers, to share responsibility for the items they produce, handle, use and discard.
Community feedback on the consultation paper will be used to inform the drafting of the legislation.
Community response to the consultation paper will help create a national approach to product stewardship management.
Public consultation meetings will be held in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth this month.
Submissions close on 10 December 2010.
To download a copy of the consultation paper and to find out details of how to make a submission visit www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy
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Phone: +61 2 6275 9880
media@environment.gov.au
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