Update on the

National Television and Computer Recycling SchemeConsultation March - May 2012

Contents

Aim of this consultation process

About the Scheme

Legislative framework

Scheme aims and requirements

Communicating the Scheme

Finding more information

Aims of this consultation process

Promote understanding of the Scheme

Develop adaptable communication tools that promote understanding of the Scheme to the community and provide advice for consumers seeking recycling options for end-of-life televisions and computers.

Community expectation for managing e-waste

Clear expectation amongst the community that waste will be appropriately managed, and where possible, recycled

E-waste is growing 3 times faster than any other waste stream

There is a pent up demand for these products to be collected and recycled, not only from the community, but also from local government

The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme will go a long way towards meeting expectations over the long-term

About the Scheme Increase recycling, decrease television, computer, printer and

computer products waste going to landfill

Free to the community and small business at designated collection services across metro, regional and remote locations

Seamless to the community

Designated collection services funded and run by the television and computer industry

About the Scheme Manufacturers and importers of televisions and computers are

regulated under the Scheme and are referred to as liable parties

Liable parties must join an approved co-regulatory arrangement by the census date each year

Failure to meet this obligation could result in substantial penalties

About the Scheme An approved co-regulatory arrangement is a set of activities or

measures designed to achieve the outcomes in the regulations

Multiple co-regulatory arrangements have been approved

Multiple arrangement will encourage competition and increase the level of choice to the community

Each approved co-regulatory arrangements will deliver the outcomes set out in the Regulations

Legislative frameworkProduct

Stewardship Act 2011

Product Stewardship

Act 2011

Co-regulatoryCo-regulatoryVoluntaryVoluntary MandatoryMandatory

Product Stewardship (Televisions and

Computers) Regulations 2011

Product Stewardship (Televisions and

Computers) Regulations 2011

How does the legislative framework work?

The Australian Government will regulate the Scheme and set the outcomes to be achieved by industry

Industry will fund and run the Scheme

Individual approved co-regulatory arrangements will achieve key outcomes on behalf of the television and computer industry1. Recycling target

2. Material recovery target

3. Reasonable access to a collection service

Local government, recyclers and charities are not regulated under the Scheme

OUTCOME: Recycling target

The Scheme aims to lift television and computer recycling from the low rate of 17% in 2010 to 80% by 2021/2022

Recycling means the initial processing of a product, including disassembly or shredding, for the purpose of recovering useable materials

Yearly targets The Regulations specify

annual recycling targets in percentage for the Scheme and detail how these targets are calculated

Around October each year the Australia Government will publish the Scheme recycling target in tonnes

What does this mean? The Scheme will collect increasing amounts of waste televisions and

computers each year

Only products covered under by the Scheme will be counted towards the recycling target

Only products collected through approved co-regulatory arrangements will be counted towards the recycling target

In order to meet this outcome, co-regulatory arrangements will need to obtain documentation from their service providers showing the initial processing has been complete

What does this mean? There will

always be some waste collected and recycled outside the Scheme

What does this mean? As the Scheme moves towards the 80% recycling target by year 10,

less waste televisions and computers will be collected and recycled outside the Scheme.

As less waste televisions and computers are collected outside the Scheme, the cost to state and local government of managing this waste will decrease

Increased waste recycled through the Scheme will encourage Australia’s recycling industry to increase its capacity

OUTCOME: Material recovery target Measuring resource recovery is important because

televisions and computers contain valuable materials that can be re-used and hazardous substances that are better kept out of the environment

Material recovery means the proportion of materials (by weight) that is sent after recycling for processing into useable materials

Material recovery target of 90% applies from 2014-152014-15 start allows time to develop consistent measurement

and reporting methods

What does this mean? Each approved co-regulatory arrangement must meet the

90% material recovery target - this will be an average of all service providers contracted to that arrangement

Parties looking to become a service provider to a co-regulatory arrangement will need to demonstrate they can meet regulatory requirements, including the recycling and material recovery targets

OUTCOME: Reasonable access to a collection service Co-regulatory arrangements must provide reasonable access

to services across metropolitan, regional and remote areas of Australia by the end of 2013.

Collection services may include a permanent drop-off point, local retailers, a take-back event or a mail-back option.

Drop-off for households and small business is free at a designated collection service

Coverage will also be driven by rising recycling targets

How is reasonable access measured? The Regulations set metrics which draw on the ABS Remoteness

Classification Structure Each approved arrangement must meet the metrics

Metro areas: at least one service for every 250,000 people in each metro areaInner Regional areas: at least one service within 100km of every town of 10,000

people or moreOuter Regional areas: at least one service within 150km of every town of 4,000

people or more Remote areas: at least one service within 200km of every town of 2,000 people

or more and at a frequency of at least once every two years

ABS Remoteness Classification Structure

What does this mean? Reasonable access requirements ensure availability of services to

households and small business in regional and remote, not just metro areas, by 31 December 2013

Each co-regulatory arrangement must individually meet the reasonable access requirement

Collection of products from organisations that are not small businesses does not count towards reasonable access

While there is no obligation to provide recycling services free of charge to these organisations, services can be set up through a separate agreement

What does this mean? Collection services will start slowly and build up over time, giving

householders and small business more choice for the responsible disposal of televisions and computers

Local government, charities and recyclers may need to consider how collection and recycling services are currently provided as the Scheme may not be able to replace these services in its early years

Local governments, recyclers and charities should contact the co-regulatory arrangements to discuss access to services in their local area

Environmental and OHS considerations Co-regulatory arrangements will be required to assess the

adequacy of environmental, health and safety policies and practices of collection and recycling operators

These matters are likely to be included in contracts To ensure consistency in collection and recycling

operations, work is being done to develop new standards

Australia/New Zealand Standard for the collection, transport, storage and treatment of electrical and electronic equipment

Work Health and Safety guidance material for the e-waste recycling industry

Communicating the Scheme Growing interest amongst the community in knowing

when the Scheme will be available and what alternative collection and recycling options exist in the local area

More information about the Scheme and how it will work is available at www.environment.gov.au/ewaste

As the Scheme rolls out across Australia, co-regulatory arrangements will provide the community with information on what collection services will be available and where products can be taken for free recycling

Communicating the Scheme Key outcome of this consultation process is to provide

local government, recyclers and charities with tools to respond appropriately and consistently to the community

Seeking feedback through these sessions as to what will work and what will not

Preliminary thinking is an electronic toolkit containing printable flyers, posters and factsheets as well as generic articles for newsletters, and electronic media for websites and e-newsletters

Working with co-regulatory arrangements

Co-regulatory arrangements will achieve the outcomes in the regulations on behalf of their members, including:

Working with stakeholders, such as local government, charities and recyclers

Delivering the roll-out timeline

Working with stakeholder to determining type and frequency of services

Communication activities in the community

Working with co-regulatory arrangements

Co-regulatory arrangements and service providers operating collection points or recycling activities will also need to ensure they meet the following regulatory requirements:

OHS requirements for collection and recycling of waste televisions and computers

Environmental requirements for collection, storage, transport and treatment

Contacting approved co-regulatory arrangements

DHL Supply Chain ANZ Recycling PlatformMark Phillips Carmel DollissonAccount Manager - Special Projects General ManagerEmail: Mark.Phillips2@dhl.com Email:

Carmel.Dollisson@anzrp.com.au Phone: 02 8759 7148 Phone: 03 9412 5115Mobile: 0419 474 348 Mobile: 0418 360 057

E-Cycle Solutions Pty Ltd (televisions only)Sandy McGregorEmail: sandy@vic.qlslogistics.com.au Phone: 03 9706 5966Fax: 03 9706 4138

November 2011 – March 2012 Application and assessment

phase

Enforcement phase against liable parties commences

July 2012 – June 2013 First Target Period

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

Timeline

Liable party census data

Arrangement target calculated based on

membership

ANZ Standard public comment

period – 9 weeksWHS Guidance

Material consultation

period – 10 weeks

Communications material circulated

More information

Contact the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

Website: www.environment.gov.au/ewaste

Email: ewaste@environment.gov.au

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