Industry, Community Leaders Call for Swift Action on Producer Responsibility

Tuesday, 30 December 2003 10:00

The Framework for EPR calls for clear and substantial targets linked to timelines which trigger mandatory schemes if not met.

"The overwhelming support for this initiatve serves as a timely reminder for the government that it must quickly address the rising mountains of landfills overflowing with used products," said Jeff Angel, Director of Total Environment Centre (TEC). "Unless the Government implements producer take-back schemes, millions of tonnes of valuable materials will continue to be wasted."

Industry and community leaders supporting the Framework include Siemans, Theiss Services, Collex, the Australian Cartridge Remanufacturing Association, Stratum Australia, the Australian Consumers Association, NSW Council for Social Services, Clean Up Australia and a broad range of local councils.

"Producers are best placed to take responsibility for post-consumer waste because they design it in the first place and can make it more recyclable," said Mr Angel "Voluntary schemes have been unable to stop millions of toxic products going to landfill. They are also unfair to the leading companies that are responsible about the waste they create."

Mobile phones, batteries, TVs, computers, tyres, CCA treated timber and packaging have been targeted as 'wastes of concern' by the Environment Protection Agency and are liable for regulation under new NSW laws. Such programs are already in place across Europe, Asia and the US where producers must take back their products, improve collection and recycling rates, and cease using toxic chemicals.

"When products go to landfill, poisonous materials can leach into the environment and threaten the ecosystem and human health. Requiring producers to take back their products sends a long overdue message to them to make them cleaner and less wasteful," said Mr Angel.

CURRENT SIGNATORIES
Australian Cartridge Remanufacturing Association
Australian Cartridge Resellers
Burwood Computer Services
CartCollect
Collex
Greenchill Technologies Australia
Microseconds
PC Graveyard
Schiavello
Siemans
Stratum Australia
Theiss Systems
Tyche Digital
Wright Corporate Strategy
Australian Chemical Trauma Alliance
Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Consumers Association
The Bower
Clean Up Australia
Ecodesign Foundation
Environmental Defenders Office
Friends of the Earth
Greenpeace
Lead Advisory Service Australia
Minerals Policy Institute
National Toxics Network
NSW Council of Social Services
Public Health Association of Australia
Reverse Garbage
Total Environment Centre
WorldWide Fund for Nature
The Wilderness Society
Berrigan Shire Council
Bingara Shire Council
Blacktown City Council
Bland Shire Council
Botany Bay Council
Cessnock City Council
Council of the Municipality of Kiama
Eurobodalla Shire Council
Fairfield City Council
Gosford City Council
Gunnedah Shire Council
Hornsby Shire Council
Hurstville City Council
Kogarah Council
Lake Macquarie City Council
Lismore City Council
Mulwarree Shire Council
North Sydney Council
Shellharbour City Council
Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
Tumbarumba Shire Council
Tweed Shire Council
Warringah Council
Willoughby City Council
Wingecarribee Shire Council
Wollongong Council
Centre for Waste and Water Technology, UNSW
Urban Frontiers Programme, UWS

THE FRAMEWORK FOR EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY
The following guidelines represent the views of a coalition of supporters of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), who share a common goal that the existing NSW legislation is implemented in good faith to its fullest extent, with the minimum delay, and to the maximum benefit of the community, environment and industry.

Benefits of EPR:
* Stimulate resource recovery and recycling industries.
* Improve resource efficiency through better product design.
* Reduce waste management costs.
* Reduce the environmental impact of product waste.

REWARDING BEST PRACTICE

* EPR schemes should be supported by significant financial incentives and rewards for companies whose performance exceeds the prescribed targets.

CREATING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
* While commercial advantage needs to be respected, minimum standards for the successful recovery of resources by all relevant players in an industry, including importers, should be established. A level playing field is critical - failure to comply with standards should attract significant financial penalties and public exposure. Repeat offenders should attract even greater penalties.
* Clear and substantial targets must be set and linked to specific timelines with interim milestones where industry schemes are considered. Failure to meet these targets within the timelines must trigger mandatory schemes without the opportunity to extend the (failed) scheme. Legitimate delays accompanied by early warnings, however, should be able to trigger interim solutions.
* Mandatory schemes in NSW (possibly in concert with Victoria) should be the preferred option over voluntary schemes in order to eliminate free-riders and reward best practice.

REPORTING
* Reporting on the meeting of targets must be mandatory and transparent. A system of independent verification and public reporting must underpin reporting on recovery rates.
* The extent and complexity of compliance regimes must allow for the size of operation and should recognise that SMEs generally have less impact. There should be a flexible approach to reducing administrative burdens (such as reporting) for organisations with limited resources.

CONSULTATION
* A Technical Reference Group should be formed to assist government to implement Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. The constitution of this group should represent the entire spectrum of the community and must not be dominated by special interest industry groups. Its operations must be fully transparent, with full public disclosure of meetings, agendas and other operational information relating to consultation.

* Meaningful, ongoing negotiation with environment groups, local government, industry and the wider community should be carried out on an equal basis to manufacturers. Small recyclers, resellers, remanufacturers, reprocessors, sustainable manufacturers, retailers, and insurance, finance and transport groups will be directly effected by Extended Producer Responsibility schemes and must be actively engaged in the consultative process. It is critical that special interest groups within the manufacturing and waste management industries do not dominate the consultative process.

STATE LEADERSHIP
* NSW should continue its leadership on this issue, recognising the ongoing value of this approach to our large state market and in the evolution of inter-state and national action.
 

For further information

Contact
:
Jane Castle
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5599
Email
:
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WWW
:
http://www.tec.org.au/