COUNCILS NEED TAKE-BACK E-WASTE SUPPORT

Saturday, 13 June 2009 01:27

“Local Government consistently carries the cost of e-waste disposal practices. What’s urgently needed is a national recycling program supported at State and Federal levels which would massively increase support for kerb-side collection and create convenient drop-off centres for e-waste and other products such as beverage containers,” said Mr Angel.

With over 100,000 toxic electronic items on their way to Australia’s landfills at the end of 2008, Mr Angel said an “extended producer responsibility approach” is the only way to take the pressure off local government and push responsibility back up the chain to the producers.

“Electronic waste contains toxic elements such as lead, cadmium, mercury and barium. It is clear the community no longer deems it acceptable to send these materials and the other recyclables such as glass and plastic to landfills.

“Australia’s environment ministers recently announced they were moving towards a national e-waste recycling scheme with a final decision in November.  It’s been a long time coming and we need to keep up the pressure to make sure they deliver,” said Mr Angel.

TEC urges the community at large to take action by visiting www.reborn.org.au and by e-mailing Minister Garrett and Minister Tebbutt in support of a sustainable electronics recycling scheme.