Electrical and electronic waste management in Australia
Australians are early adopters of technology and one of the ten highest nations of consumers of electrical and electronic equipment in the world. This has been influenced by consumer demand to have the latest equipment; the rate of technological change; the planned obsolescence of equipment; and increasing affordability. The rapid take up of new technologies has also led to an increase in the amount of electrical and electronic equipment reaching end-of-life, either being obsolete, damaged or used, and entering the waste stream. These products are known as e-waste.
Why is e-waste an issue?
E-waste is a significant component of the waste stream and is expected to increase. E-waste is growing three times faster than any other type of waste. In 2005 an estimated 697,000 tonnes of electronic and electrical equipment was consumed while 313,000 tonnes was disposed. More information can be found in the 2008 Waste and Recycling in Australia report commissioned by the Australian Government.
E-waste contains hazardous materials including mercury, lead, arsenic brominated flame retardants, beryllium and cadmium. As a party to the 1992 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal ('the Basel Convention'), Australia is required to ensure that: the generation of hazardous wastes and other wastes are minimised; that adequate disposal facilities exist for sound environmental management of wastes; and that managers of waste minimise the risk to human health and the environment (Article 4.2). The Department is responsible for ensuring Australia meets its obligations under the Basel Convention. More information can be found on the Department's Hazardous waste page.
Internationally, programs are being developed or implemented to reduce the environmental impact of electrical and electronic products. The European Union and Japan have already implemented legislation requiring the recovery and recycling of televisions and computers whilst other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are in the process of introducing a range of mechanisms to address this issue.
Development of a National Approach
The Australian Government is working with industry and all states, territories and local governments through the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) to reduce the environmental impact of e-waste. The current priorities are to develop product stewardship schemes for televisions and computers. These products have been identified because they commonly both include a very problematic component, the cathode ray tube monitor, which contains large quantities of lead. Once schemes have been developed for these products, these may serve as models for a broader range of products.
At the EPHC meeting on 22 May 2009, Environment Ministers' committed to finalising product stewardship arrangements for end of life televisions and computers at their next meeting in November 2009. An important step in reaching a decision is undertaking public and stakeholder consultation.
Consultation Package
0n 15 July 2008, the EPHC released a consultation package of possible options for the management of end-of-life televisions and computers for public comment. The package examined the impacts of implementing consistent national arrangements for end-of-life televisions and computers.
The consultation package included:
- Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS): Televisions and Computers
- Willingness To Pay For E-Waste Recycling - Final Report (Choice Modelling study) , and
- Code of Practice for Managing End-of-Life Televisions.
The opportunity to submit comments on the consultation package closed on Thursday, 13 August 2009. The views expressed in the submissions received will inform the process of choosing and designing the appropriate policy option(s) to manage end-of-life televisions and computers in Australia.
- For more information visit: www.ephc.gov.au - EPHC, Televisions and Computers
Next Steps
A Decision Regulatory Impact Statement will be drafted, which will be provided to EPHC in November 2009. The Regulatory Impact Statement will provide the EPHC with detailed information about the proposed management options for end-of-life televisions and computers, comments received during the public consultation phase and recommendations.
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