The NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has a statutory responsibility under the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 (NSW) to develop an extended producer responsibility (EPR) priority statement (PS). This PS identifies only those wastes or products that would be suitable for management through an EPR scheme. Other wastes are controlled under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act). The statement effectively puts relevant industries on notice that they must act to reduce the amount or impact of their products in the waste stream. In its 2004 PS, the following wastes, amongst many others, were identified as being subject to the PS: used tyres, computers, televisions, nickel cadmium batteries, agvet chemicals, mobile phones and batteries, packaging waste, including glass, PET, HDPE, liquid paper board, aluminium, steel etc, cigarette butts, electrical produce, end-of-life vehicle residuals, household hazardous and chemical wastes.
The EPR Priority Statement 2005-06 has now been released. No new waste of concern has been nominated for 2005-06 because DEC wants to maintain its focus on current priority wastes. Although some sectors have shown good progress and have established national product stewardship schemes or agreements, other sectors are a long way from having a workable scheme in place. In 2006, the particular priorities are: computers, mobile phones, office paper, paint, plastic bags, televisions and tyres. If adequate initiatives are not developed to address these types of waste the Minister may decide to make regulations to implement the EPR schemes. However, to date the government has indicated its support for voluntary approaches.
The PS indicates that regulations will be made under the POEO Act to implement the Used Packaging Materials National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM). These will replace the current Industry Waster Reduction Plan. In addition, the NSW government is collaborating with other States to prepare a new NEPM for Project Stewardship which will be developed over the next 12 months.
Submissions on the PS may be made by 30 June 2006 at product.stewardship@environment.nsw.gov.au.
Source: NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, March 2006.
