New National Product Recycling Law to be Quickly Tested

Wednesday, 15 June 2011 13:24

The successful passage of the Product Stewardship Act in the Senate today, is a welcome change to the arid waste policy scene that has pervaded national politics for years, Total Environment Centre said.

"This is real meat on the press statements and pages of policy documents that have been released over the years while millions of tonnes of products were thrown into landfill.  No modern society should tolerate such waste and hopefully the new law will usher in far more producer responsibility and comprehensive recycling schemes," said Jeff Angel, Director of the Centre.

"There's pent up demand and the first off the blocks will be the well advanced e-waste program.  Tyres, batteries, container deposits and mercury containing lamps are waiting in the wings."

"We welcome the amendments moved in the Senate today which will deliver more transparency and assist in prioritising products for national attention."

"While an umbrella Act was what was required so that new recycling efforts can be appropriately crafted, there is a fundamental issue that will test the resolve of governments.  Under the Act it will be all too easy to adopt voluntary programs which invariably have low targets and little effective support for comprehensive collection systems.   Unless we are very careful we will be stuck with these for years while the majority of a dangerous product and its valuable resources still end up in landfill - until failure becomes intolerable," said Mr Angel.

"We'll have to be smart with this legislation, not lazy or unambitious."