Getting real about e-waste: new consultation paper on product stewardship

Key Points:

A national co-regulatory product stewardship scheme that extends manufacturer or importer responsibility to the end of life of computers and televisions could be in place as early as the final quarter of this year.

The Australian Government is getting real about tackling growing e-waste mounds. A national co-regulatory product stewardship scheme that extends manufacturer or importer responsibility to the end of life of computers and televisions could be in place as early as the final quarter of this year.

The proposed national take-back scheme for televisions and computers, called the National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme (E-Waste Scheme) sets aggressive targets which aim to lift recycling rates for televisions, computers and computer peripherals from 10% to 80% by 2021. This will affect importers and manufacturers as well as e-waste recyclers, local councils and other e-waste service providers. A consultation paper on E-Waste