Less waste, more resources
Public consultation
Proposed model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements
Consultation Paper on the Accreditation of Voluntary Product Stewardship Arrangements
Submissions
On 28 February 2012 the department released for public consultation the Consultation Paper on the Proposed Model for Accreditation of Voluntary Product Stewardship Arrangements. A total of 20 submissions were received during the four week consultation period which ended 27 March 2012. The feedback provided has assisted in finalising the model in preparation for the development of a ministerial determination and fee regulations to support voluntary product stewardship accreditation under the Product Stewardship Act 2011.
The department would like to thank all those who provided submissions.
A summary of the matters raised in the submissions and copies of the non-confidential submissions are available below.
- Summary of submissions on the proposed model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements (PDF - 118KB) | (Word - 39KB)
Background
Under the National Waste Policy: Less waste, more resources, the Australian Government agreed to develop and enact national legislation to support voluntary, co-regulatory and mandatory product stewardship and extended producer responsibility schemes. The Product Stewardship Act 2011 (the Act) came into effect on 8 August 2011 satisfying this commitment.
In the context of the Act, the accreditation of voluntary product stewardship occurs when self-selected organisations seek, and are granted, accreditation from the Australian Government for voluntary product stewardship activities. To implement the voluntary product stewardship provisions under the Act, a ministerial determination and regulations need to be developed. The ministerial determination will set out the requirements for accreditation. The regulations will specify the application fees for accreditation. The feedback from the public consultation process has assisted with finalising the model for accreditation and the drafting of these legislative instruments.
Consultation process
The consultation paper was released for public consultation on 28 February 2012 for a four week period, ending on 27 March 2012. Public meetings were held in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne on 14-20 March 2012 to enable members of the public to hear more about the model and seek clarification on any issues. Bilateral discussions with stakeholder organisations were also conducted during the consultation period.
The objectives of the consultation process were to:
- Gain feedback from stakeholders to ensure the model for voluntary product stewardship is effective and appropriate.
- Ensure the Australian Government has a comprehensive understanding of potential impacts and implications associated with the proposed model.
- Improve awareness among stakeholders of the proposed model, especially for those who will have an interest obtaining accreditation for an arrangement.
Download the consultation paper
- Consultation paper on the proposed model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements (PDF - 1474KB) | (Word - 244KB)
Copyright
Responsibility for copyright in submissions resides with the author(s), not with the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
Confidentiality
Some submissions have been supplied in-confidence and have not been posted. If you have concerns about published material, please email wastepolicy@environment.gov.au or call 02 6274 1111.
Formats and accessibility
The department has made every effort to ensure submissions provided are as accessible as possible. If you have difficulty accessing the information provided and need further assistance, please email wastepolicy@environment.gov.au or call 02 6274 1111.
Latest news
Voluntary product stewardship arrangements
New legislative instruments for the accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements under the Product Stewardship Act 2011.
Product Stewardship Advisory Group
The Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water announced the establishment of the Product Stewardship Advisory Group on 6 December 2012.
Product Notice - Packaging
The Product Stewardship Act 2011 requires at least 12 months' notification be given that a class of products is being considered for some form of accreditation or regulation under the Act before regulations may be made in relation to that class of products.
