On June 22, the Product Stewardship Bill passed through the
House of Representatives after a comprehensive review by the
appointed Senate Committee. It is likely that the Bill will receive
royal assent and be proclaimed in the near future.
'Product stewardship' requires that all parties in the
production-supply-consumption chain share the responsibility of
managing and reducing the environmental, health and safety
footprint of manufactured goods and materials across their life
cycle.
The evolution of a comprehensive national scheme addressing
product stewardship began modestly in 1992 but developed strongly
from 2008. Recognition of the need in Australia for a comprehensive
product stewardship scheme, creating national consistency and
bringing Australian legislation up-to-date with other jurisdictions
led to the 2009 National Waste Policy. The policy set out 16
strategies for the reduction and management of waste in Australia
over ten years, one of which was the
