6 March 2014 - In its
first year of operation, the Australian
Government's National Television and Computer
Recycling Scheme recycled over 40,000 tonnes
of e-waste – televisions and computers that
would have previously been stockpiled or
sent to landfill.
A report on the outcomes
of the scheme for 2012-13 shows that industry
supported the highest levels of e-waste
recycling ever seen in Australia – recycling
the equivalent of four Eiffel Towers in
weight.
The scheme is a partnership
between government and industry and is a
great example of product stewardship – an
approach that acknowledges that those involved
in producing, importing, selling, using
and disposing of products have a shared
responsibility to reduce the impact that
those products and their use and disposal
have on the environment.
Established by the Australian
Government on behalf of state, territory
and local governments, it aims to increase
the level of industry engagement to deal
with television and computer waste, a growing
part of Australia's waste stream.
I acknowledge the strong
support shown by industry, with all of the
companies covered by the scheme meeting
their obligation to participate.
Under the scheme, the
television and computer industry's target
for 2012-13 was to recycle 30 per cent of
television and computer waste arising in
Australia during the financial year, with
the states and territories responsible for
the remaining 70 per cent.
Industry's recycling
target will increase gradually to 80 per
cent of the available waste in 2021-22.
In addition to supporting
record volumes of e-waste recycling, industry
also provided 635 e-waste collection services
to communities in metropolitan, regional
and remote Australia.
Prior to the scheme's
establishment it was estimated that only
10 per cent of these products were recycled.
As televisions and computers
can contain hazardous materials, disposal
into landfill poses a risk to the environment
and human health and safety. They also contain
valuable resources that can be reused.
For further information and to access the
report, visit: www.environment.gov.au/ewaste
