Call for Australia-wide e-waste scheme

Archiv – Australia’s federal government is being pressed to fast-track a national scheme for recycling the country’s electronic waste. Major consumer electronics manufacturer Panasonic is concerned the problem is spiralling out of control for the lack of a co-ordinated national programme for dealing with the growing volume of material.Australia | Australia’s federal government is being pressed to fast-track a national scheme for recycling the country’s electronic waste. Major consumer electronics manufacturer Panasonic is concerned the problem is spiralling out of control for the lack of a co-ordinated national programme for dealing with the growing volume of material.
Noting estimates that 2 million televisions will end up in Australian landfills this year, Panasonic Australia’s Managing Director Steve Rust observes: ’E-waste is one of the most significant environmental issues facing Australia and the time to begin implementing a national television recycling scheme is now. The more a national initiative is delayed, the more dire the consequences for the Australian environment.’
Panasonic has joined industry groups such as Product Stewardship Australia in calling for a nationwide scheme. A number of small-scale e-waste recycling programmes are operating in Australia – including Victoria’s Byteback scheme – but a co-ordinated national initiative is imperative, according to Mr Rust. ’It is unrealistic for the burden of this problem to be borne by individual local councils, manufacturers or recycling organisations,’ he argues. ’This is a significant logistical and educational challenge that needs the full attention of the federal government.’
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says a solution to Australia’s e-waste problem is currently being sought. ’The Australian government and Environment Protection and Heritage Council are actively working with industry on a range of product stewardship options such as voluntary codes of conduct and recycling schemes,’ he notes. ’Considerable effort is being made with groups like Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association to address issues such as the use of hazardous substances in electronic equipment. Industry is also working with staff from the Commonwealth Environment Department on the development of a voluntary code of conduct for the industry to move away from using hazardous materials in their products.’