Partnership Call: Product Stewardship Scheme for Photovoltaic Systems

Through partnerships we bring together the strengths and resources of diverse partners to have more impact and achieve more sustainable outcomes for the environment.

We are inviting suitably experienced and skilled entities to submit a partnering proposal to develop and implement an industry-led product stewardship scheme for photovoltaic (PV) systems.

A product stewardship scheme for PV systems should encourage shared responsibility between business, governments and consumers throughout the supply chain to manage the impacts of products through their life cycle.

We will support the successful partner to achieve the outcomes of the scheme.

To achieve the objective, the scheme when implemented will:

• have a national reach
• increase resource recovery and recycling, and minimise the environmental, health and safety impacts of end-of-life PV systems in Australia
• support the whole supply chain take responsibility for PV systems, including at end of life
• support the development of an efficient and innovative domestic PV recycling industry
• promote research and development in managing end-of-life PV systems; and
• operate under a self-funded model.

The scheme will contribute to achieving Target 3 of the 2019 National Waste Policy Action Plan:

• increasing Australia’s resource recovery rate to 80 per cent by 2030.

The Australian Government will provide the successful partner(s) seed funding of up to $2 million over three years from 2020–21 to 2022–23 to develop and implement the scheme.

The grant is part of the National Product Stewardship Investment Fund. The Fund is part of the Australian Government’s $167 million Australian Recycling Investment Plan to increase Australia’s recycling rates, tackle plastic waste and litter, and halve food waste by 2030.

Further information

• Partnerships
• Product stewardship