Less waste, more resources
National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
About the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme involves a combination of government regulation and industry action to take responsibility for the collection and recycling of waste televisions, computers, printers and computer products.
Under the Scheme, householders and small business will be able to drop-off these items for free at designated access points, which may include permanent collection sites, take-back events or through a mail-back option. Collection services under the Scheme will be progressively rolled out by industry from 2012, expanding across metropolitan, regional and remote areas of Australia by the end of 2013.
What's happening
Implementation Working Group
The National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme Implementation Working Group was established to provide a high-level, strategic forum to guide the development of a national recycling scheme for televisions, computers, printers and computer products.
During its 11 meetings, between March 2010 and October 2011, the Implementation Working Group undertook the considerable task of providing guidance, feedback and input into the development and implementation of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme. This achievement report is the final document produced for the Implementation Working Group.
Material recovery target
The Government has amended the Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011 to include a material recovery target. A material recovery target sets requirements for the minimum weight of materials that need to be recovered through the recycling process for further processing into useable materials. Consistent with the objectives of the Scheme to maximise resource recovery and minimise waste to landfill, it is intended to complement the recycling targets in the Regulations by ensuring achievement of good resource recovery and to limit the amount of material being sent to landfill.
The material recovery target in the Regulations has been set at 90 per cent, consistent with the estimated average material recovery rate currently being achieved by Australian recyclers of televisions and computers. The target does not come into effect until the 2014-15 financial year, to provide time to standardise measurement and reporting methodologies.
The material recovery target was set following the completion of a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) and feedback received through consultation on the exposure draft Regulations. A copy of the RIS is available below.
- Regulation Impact Statement - Material Recovery under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
Information Sessions for Liable Parties
Information sessions were held for importers of televisions, computers, printers and computer products and domestic manufacturers who are "liable parties" under the Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in early December 2011. The Regulations, which underpin the new scheme to increase the recycling rate for televisions and computers, were made on 8 November 2011, after an extensive stakeholder consultation.
The Regulations identify importers of televisions, computers, printers and computer products and domestic manufacturers of these products as 'liable parties'. Liability in a given financial year is determined by the number of products imported or manufactured in the previous financial year.
Those identified from import data as a liable party, or potential liable party, will have received written notification from the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. If you have a liable party enquiry, or believe you may be a liable party but have not been contacted by the department, please contact 1800 332 783 to speak with the TV and Computer Regulator Team. If you believe you may be a liable party and have not received a letter or would like to discuss how the Regulations might affect you, please phone 1800 332 783. More information can be found in the Liable Parties fact sheet:
- Fact sheet - Liable Parties (PDF - 363KB) | (Word - 3889KB)
Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations
A national scheme for recycling televisions and computers came a step closer with the making of the Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011 on 8 November 2011.
The making of the Regulations comes 3 months after the Product Stewardship Act 2011 came into effect (on 8 August 2011).
Find out more
- Fact sheet - Recycling Targets (PDF - 599KB) | (Word - 213KB)
- Fact sheet - Conversion Factors (PDF - 202KB) | (Word - 240KB)
- Fact sheet - Guide for Householders (PDF - 445KB) | (Word - 332KB)
- Fact sheet - Guide for Local Government (PDF - 277KB) | (Word - 1944KB)
- Fact sheet - The Role of Recyclers in the Scheme (PDF - 654KB) | (Word - 1688KB)
- Fact sheet - Liable Parties (PDF - 363KB) | (Word - 3889KB)
NOTE: If you have a liable party enquiry, please contact 1800 332 783 to speak with the TV and Computer Regulation Team
- Fact sheet - Co-regulatory Arrangements (PDF - 445KB) | (Word - 332KB)
- Fact sheet - Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011 (PDF - 581KB) | (Word - 7499KB)
Co-regulatory arrangements
If you are interested in establishing an approved co-regulatory arrangement, please contact the Television and Computer Regulation Team on 1800 332 783 or by email: ewaste@environment.gov.au, before completing an application form.
Contact details for proposed co-regulatory arrangements
Three organisations have publicly announced they are interested in establishing a co-regulatory arrangement. Anyone wishing to contact potential co-regulatory arrangements for information about how on-ground operations may work should contact:
For televisions and computers | |
|
DHL Supply Chain Mark Phillips Account Manager - Special Projects Mark.Phillips2@dhl.com Phone: 02 8759 7148 Mobile: 0419 474 348 | Australian & New Zealand Recycling Platform Limited Carmel Dollisson - General Manager ewaste@anzrp.com.au or carmel.dollisson@anzrp.com.au Phone: 03 9412 5115 Mobile: 0418 360 057 |
For televisions only |
|
QLS Group |
The Department will make available the contact details of other organisations that have registered interest in establishing a co-regulatory arrangement as they become available.
Consultation on the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
The making of the Regulations which underpin the Scheme, follows nearly two years of extensive consultation, starting with a consultation Regulatory Impact Statement in 2009 and culminating in the release of the exposure draft Regulations.
Product Stewardship Act 2011
The Product Stewardship Act 2011 came into effect on 8 August 2011.
