Less waste, more resources
Product stewardship
Legislation
Product Stewardship Act 2011
The Product Stewardship Act 2011 came into effect on 8 August 2011. This legislation provides the framework to effectively manage the environmental, health and safety impacts of products, and in particular those impacts associated with the disposal of products. The framework includes voluntary, co-regulatory and mandatory product stewardship. The passage of the legislation delivers on a key commitment by the Australian Government under the National Waste Policy which was agreed by governments in November 2009 and endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments in October 2010.
- Product Stewardship Act 2011
- Fact sheet - Product Stewardship Act 2011 (PDF - 2672KB) | (Word - 251KB)
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. The Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water has approved the issuing of such a notice in relation to packaging.
Product Stewardship (Voluntary Arrangements) Instrument 2012
The Product Stewardship (Voluntary Arrangements) Instrument 2012 came into effect in November 2012. The instrument sets out the requirements and conditions for accreditation by the Australian Government for voluntary product stewardship arrangements.
Product Stewardship Regulation 2012
The Product Stewardship Regulation 2012 came into effect in November 2012. The Regulation sets out the fees and fee structure for the assessment of applications for accreditation of a voluntary product stewardship arrangement.
Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011
On 3 November 2011 the Government made new regulations to support the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme. The Regulations require importers and manufacturers of televisions, computers and computer products to fund and implement recycling services for these products, and to meet a range of requirements.
- Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011
- Fact sheet - Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011 (PDF - 581KB) | (Word - 7499KB)
Amendments - June 2012
Minor amendments have been made to the Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011. The amendments, which commenced on 20 June 2012, are relevant to recycling targets in 2012-13.
In summary, the amendments:
- align product codes and descriptions in the Regulations with the updated Combined Australian Customs Tariff Nomenclature and Statistical Classification
- make some consequential changes, including to insert 'conversion factors' for the new product codes
- make some minor, technical amendments to align the target provisions of the Regulations with the policy intent.
A consolidated version of the Regulations, as amended, is available at www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012C00375
Development of legislation
Public consultation
- Proposed model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements
Public consultation on the proposed model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements to support the development of the Product Stewardship (voluntary Arrangements) Instrument 2012 and Product Stewardship Regulation 2012 was held in 2012. - Product stewardship legislation consultation paper and submissions
A consultation paper on the proposed design of the national product stewardship legislation was released in November 2010. Submissions closed on 10 December 2010 and the Department received 46 submissions.
Product Stewardship Legislation Stakeholder Reference Group
The Product Stewardship Legislation Stakeholder Reference Group contributes expertise to help address the complex issues that arise in developing legislation for product stewardship and extended producer responsibility schemes.
This stakeholder reference group engages with the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities on developing the Product Stewardship legislation, including scope and function of regulations, governance arrangements for product stewardship schemes, along with compliance and enforcement mechanisms. This includes input into the National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme and the regulations covering end of life televisions and computers.
The Product Stewardship Legislation Stakeholder Reference Group includes representatives from:
- Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
- Total Environment Centre
(www.tec.org.au/) - Australian Council of Recyclers
(www.acor.org.au/) - Veolia Environmental Services
(www.veoliaes.com.au/) - Environment Protection Authority South Australia
(www.epa.sa.gov.au/) - Australia Mobile Telecommunications Association
(www.amta.org.au) - Business Imaging Association of Australia Ltd
- Smith Family Commercial Enterprise
(www.thesmithfamily.com.au) - Intel
(www.intel.com) - Synnex Australia
(www.synnex.com.au) - Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association
(www.cesa.asn.au) - Planet Ark Environmental Foundation
(www.planetark.org) - Infoactiv Group
(www.infoactiv.com.au) - Harford Consulting
- Local Government Association of NSW
(www.lgsa.org.au) - Local Government Association of Queensland
(www.lgaq.asn.au)
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.
