National Waste Policy

Less waste, more resources

What's happening?

Implementation of the National Waste Policy

Exposure draft - Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Amendment Regulation 2012

Exposure draft and associated commentary released for public comment.

Liquid Waste Assessment Report

The Liquid Waste Assessment Report was commissioned to assess the data and information on liquid waste in Australia. This study supports work on the National Waste Policy: Less Waste, More Resources.

Waste classifications in Australia

Waste classifications in Australia - A comparison of waste classifications in the Australian Waste Database with current jurisdictional classifications expands on work done by the department in the National Waste Report 2010 and the Australian Waste Classification ·Roles in Decision Making.

National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme

Second approved arrangement announced

Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP) has been approved as the second organisation able to deliver services under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.

First approved arrangement announced
DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Ltd has been approved as the first organisation able to deliver services under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.

Proposed model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements

A consultation paper on the proposed model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements was released on 28 February 2012.

The consultation paper provides all stakeholders and interested members of the community the opportunity to contribute to the development of a model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements under the Australian Government's Product Stewardship Act 2011.

Public meetings are being held in Sydney on 14 March 2012, Canberra on 16 March 2012 and Melbourne on 20 March 2012.

Construction and Demolition Waste Guide

The Construction and Demolition Waste Guide - recycling and re-use across the supply chain draws on Australian case studies to highlight best practice waste management and resource recovery in the construction and demolition sector and to address a common perception that that the reuse of this type of waste is too difficult.

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.

Progress on product stewardship of tyres

Progress on product stewardship of tyres An industry-government working group has developed a model for a voluntary product stewardship scheme which aims to increase resource recovery and recycling, and to reduce the negative environmental, health and safety impacts of all end-of-life tyres in Australia.

Environment ministers gave in-principle support to the model scheme at their meeting on 16 September 2011, and encouraged the tyre industry to consult with key stakeholders on the development of the guidelines for the voluntary industry-led scheme.

News from environment and water ministers

Exposure draft of the Regulations for the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme

An exposure draft of the Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations (the Regulations), which will underpin the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, is available for public comment.

The exposure draft of the Regulations provides all stakeholders and interested members of the community the opportunity to consider and contribute to the final content and operation of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.

Public meetings are being held nationally between 13 September 2011 and 21 September 2011.

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.

Transitional TV take-back arrangements ?regional Victoria and NSW border areas

30 June to 31 July

Households affected by the switch to digital television in regional Victoria and NSW border areas can drop off old televisions for recycling for free between 30 June and 31 July under a month-long joint initiative of the Australian, Victorian and New South Wales governments.

Most analog televisions will be able to receive the full suite of free-to-air digital TV channels by adding a digital set-top box, so there will not necessarily be a need for householders to replace their televisions for the switchover. However, recognizing that many householders may use the opportunity to upgrade, the Australian Government has initiated the take-back arrangements to ensure that unwanted televisions are collected and recycled responsibly.

The department is continuing to work with states and territories and the television and computer industry in developing a long-term Australia-wide national television and computer collection and recycling scheme.

The national television and computer product stewardship scheme is expected to be operational in time for the digital switchover in most of Australia, including major metropolitan centres.

For further details about the scheme contact: Victoria: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au or call 1300 363 744

NSW: www.environment.nsw.gov.au or call 131555

For information on the switchover to digital television go to www.digitalready.gov.au or call 1800 20 10 13.

Passage of the Product Stewardship Bill 2011

The Product Stewardship Bill 2011 was passed by the Parliament on 22 June 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 Bill 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 August 2010.

National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme

Consultation paper on National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme
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.

Following extensive consultation and consideration of a regulation impact statement, in 2009 all Australian governments agreed that televisions and computers would be the first products regulated under the proposed product stewardship legislation.

The department is preparing Regulations to underpin arrangements for collecting and recycling televisions and computers under the National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme. A consultation paper on the proposed Regulations was released on 8 March 2011 and submissions are now closed.

Product Stewardship Bill 2011

The Product Stewardship Bill 2011 was introduced into Parliament on 23 March 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 Bill implements a key strategy of the National Waste Policy agreed by governments in November 2009 and endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments in August 2010.

National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme

Consultation paper and public meetings
The department is preparing to draft regulations to underpin industry arrangements for collecting and recycling televisions and computers under the National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme.

A consultation paper on the proposed regulations which will underpin the Scheme has been released. The public submission period closes on Friday 8 April 2011. Public meetings are being held in capital cities and selected regional locations in March and April.

Australian waste classifications - roles in decision making

This publication describes the waste classifications used in Australian States and Territories. It is to support work being done under Strategy 4 of the National Waste Policy: Less Waste, More Resources. Strategy 4 of the Policy is to develop and introduce a new national system for the definition and classification of waste.

National product stewardship legislation

Consultation paper & public meetings
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.

A consultation paper on the proposed design of the national product stewardship legislation was released in November 2010. Submissions have now closed. Public consultation sessions were held in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth in the week of 22-26 November 2010.

EPHC Working Groups

Terms of Reference
On the 6 December 2010, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council Standing Committee endorsed the Terms of Reference for each of the eight EPHC National Waste Policy working groups. The endorsed Terms of Reference set out the purpose and objectives for each working group.

National product stewardship legislation

Consultation paper & public meetings
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.

A consultation paper on the proposed design of the national product stewardship legislation has been released and you are invited to submit comments. Public consultation sessions will be held in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth in the week of 22-26 November 2010.

National Waste Policy status report

On 4 November 2010 the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) released a status report on National Waste Policy implementation over the last 12 months. The status report provides a snapshot of progress against the 2010 milestones set out in the National Waste Policy Implementation Plan (as at 14 October 2010) and an update on the remaining strategies which have longer term milestones. .

Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) Communique

National Waste Policy Working Groups established

Eight working groups have now been established to take forward the National Waste Policy Implementation Plan. The groups are convening over October and November 2010 to progress work plans covering the period to June 2012. Work plans will be submitted to the Environment Protection and Heritage Standing Committee for consideration. More information on these groups is available in Table 4 of the National Waste Policy Implementation Plan. www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy/resources.html

Evaluating the National Waste Report 2010

The National Waste Report 2010 provides waste and resource management information and baseline data for use in addressing waste issues, and for developing an ongoing body of national information on waste management and resource recovery and ideas to be used by individuals, researchers, the community, education institutions, private industry and government.

ONLINE SURVEY: We are seeking to make future National Waste Reports as useful and informative as possible, and so are seeking your input.

For further information email wastereport@environment.gov.au.

National product stewardship legislation

A key priority for the Australian Government is to establish national product stewardship legislation, in consultation with states, territories, industry and the community. The legislation will have voluntary, co-regulatory and mandatory components and will provide a mechanism to enable accreditation and oversight of product stewardship schemes.

Stakeholder engagement is important to the development of the legislation and a range of approaches is being used to consult widely. In early 2010 the Australian Government formed two stakeholder reference groups to assist with these processes.

National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme

EPHC agreed that televisions and computers would be the first products to be covered under the co-regulatory arm of the product stewardship legislation with householders able to drop off used televisions and computers and for recycling free of charge. All manufacturers/importers of televisions and computers will be required to take responsibility for collection and recycling of their products. A national Industry run scheme is expected to be up and running in 2011.

A National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme Implementation Working Group has been established to facilitate planning arrangements; consider the relationships between the operational aspects of introducing a national product stewardship scheme for televisions and computers; ensure industry developed schemes are consistent with government policy; and deliver on the core product stewardship objectives. The working group, which comprises computer and television and state government representatives, held its inaugural meeting on 30 March 2010. This group is currently meeting every 4-6 weeks. A National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Stakeholder Reference Group, covering a broader group of affected stakeholders such as relevant community and environmental groups and the recycling industry, was constituted in May 2010. The Stakeholder Reference Group will have a small number of face to face meetings held at key points in the process, with email the primary means of engagement for providing information to and seeking feedback from this group.

Stakeholder engagement

Stakeholder engagement is important to the development of both the Product Stewardship legislation and the Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme and a range of approaches are being used to consult widely.

In early 2010 the Australian Government formed two stakeholder reference groups, the Product Stewardship Legislation Stakeholder Reference Group and the National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Stakeholder Reference Group, to assist with these processes. A joint government and television and computer industry Implementation Working Group to develop the operational arrangements for the scheme has also been established.

Other approaches to stakeholder engagement include the release of a consultation paper that seeks to stimulate discussion around the design of the proposed legislation. A regular e-bulletin is also being published and a one-stop portal has been established to share information on the National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme.

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities provides the secretariat support for the Stakeholder Reference Groups and supports the e-bulletin and one-stop portal. The secretariat also provides a conduit for sharing information with and between the various stakeholder reference groups, the National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme Implementation Working Group and other stakeholders.

The attached diagram provides further information on how these stakeholder consultation groups intersect in developing proposed product stewardship arrangements.

Secretariat

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities provides the secretariat support for the Implementation Working Group, the National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme Stakeholder Reference Group and the Product Stewardship Legislation Stakeholder Reference Group.

The Secretariat is responsible for ensuring information is provided between all three working groups and government representatives in a timely manner. In addition, the Secretariat ensures that the one-stop portal and e-bulletin are updated regularly to allow all members of the community access to information on the development and implementation of the Product Stewardship Legislation and the National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme.

Contact details are:

National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme Secretariat
c/- Product Stewardship E-Waste Team
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
John Gorton Building
King Edward Terrace
PARKES ACT 2600
Email: ewaste@environment.gov.au
Or
Product Stewardship Legislation Secretariat
c/- Product Stewardship Legislation Team
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
John Gorton Building
King Edward Terrace
PARKES ACT 2600

Mercury containing lamps

FluoroCycle (www.fluorocycle.org.au) is a voluntary, national scheme that aims to increase recycling of mercury-containing lamps. It commenced operations on 21 July 2010. The initial focus of the scheme is on those sectors that account for the largest consumption of mercury containing lamps, the commercial and public lighting sectors.

FluoroCycle is based on a collaboration between industry and government. It is administered by Lighting Council Australia and sponsored by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC).

National Waste Policy Implementation Plan

The National Waste Policy Implementation Plan was endorsed by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council on 5 July 2010. The implementation plan identifies priority initiatives and milestones, presents the governance arrangements that will support the Environment Protection and Heritage Council and sets out how progress will be tracked and performance monitored.

The implementation plan will be regularly updated as initiatives are scoped, consultation occurs, initiatives are completed and new work is agreed.

Australian Packaging Covenant

Australian Environment Ministers have agreed to a strengthened Australian Packaging Covenant, which commenced on 1 July 2010. Over the next five years the Australian Packaging Covenant will target improved design, away from home recycling, litter and product stewardship by all parties in the packaging chain.

The Australian Packaging Covenant marks a shift to increasing industry responsibility for the operation of the Covenant and reduces the 'red tape' burden on individual signatories.

National Waste Report - Providing the evidence

The National Waste Report 2010 presents key information on waste management and resource recovery. It draws on a range of published sources, commissioned research and information from states and territories. It is the first step towards establishing baseline data and developing a comprehensive account of waste issues which can be used by industry, government and the community to make informed and timely decisions.

As well as presenting national, state and territory waste data, the report discusses the impacts of landfill, recycling, hazardous waste, organic waste and litter, and describes how we managed waste in the past, our current arrangements and emerging issues and trends. The report also examines the quality of our data on waste and recycling.

A high resolution version of the report is available on CD. To request a copy, please email wastepolicy@environment.gov.au

National Waste Policy - less waste more resources

Latest news

Exposure draft

Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Amendment Regulation 2012
Exposure draft and associated commentary released for public comment.

Comments close 17 May 2012

Co-regulatory Arrangements

Approved Co-regulatory Arrangements
E-Cycle Solutions Pty Ltd, DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Ltd and Australian & New Zealand Recycling Platform Limited (ANZRP) are able to deliver services under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.

Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations

The Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011 support a co-regulatory recycling scheme for televisions, computers, printers and computer products.
More about the Regulations

Product Stewardship Act 2011

The Product Stewardship Act 2011 came into effect on 8 August 2011


Cover graphic

Television and Computer Scheme E-Bulletin
Issue 12, March 2012

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The objective of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council is to ensure the protection of the environment and heritage of Australia and New Zealand.

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