Efforts to establish a recycling scheme for unwanted computer equipment have hit a stumbling block, with "two or three" multinational computer manufacturers refusing to support a system under which they would pay a levy on imported computers.
Computer companies met this month to discuss a secret proposal that set out how a "product stewardship scheme" for the IT industry might work.
Consumer Electronics Association executive director Garth Wyllie, who has been overseeing efforts to establish separate schemes to prevent televisions and computers being dumped in landfills, says the proposal generated "a fair bit of discussion".
"The real outcome was there was very strong agreement we need to do quite a bit more work before it can be put out in the public domain.
"At this stage, it is very much 'wait and see' to see what comes out of it."
Mr Wyllie says "the major brands" would prefer to meet the cost of recycling their own unwanted equipment, along with their fair share of any unclaimed "orphan" equipment, once it was dropped off at collection points.
But it is understood some of them are pushing for local assemblers to pay a levy or bond upfront, because of the risk that small assemblers might go out of business and leave it to others to pick up their recycling bills.
Locally owned computer assemblers very strongly favour an advance levy, but only so long as it is "equal and fair", says Mr Wyllie.
They fear they could be forced out of business if they had to meet the costs of recycling their PCs upfront while the major brands were allowed to pay only as waste was collected.
"That is where a large amount of debate is going to be."
A law that would let the Environment Ministry force manufacturers to take part in product stewardship schemes – or impose schemes of its own – is awaiting its third reading in Parliament. Mr Wyllie believes the Waste Minimisation Bill is likely to receive its final vote on August 27 or September 10.
Television manufacturers, unlike computer companies, have agreed to pay an advance levy on imports and Mr Wyllie is hopeful that a stewardship scheme for TVs will be in place next year.
He says an advance levy would also "appear to be the simplest option" for computers and he is not sure why overseas-owned computer manufacturers have not taken the same approach.
He does not believe they are engaged in delaying tactics. "If they don't agree to something, the ministry, once the legislation is through, will be in a position to say they will put a scheme in place, which they may or may not like."
Any stewardship scheme is likely to add at least $30 to the average price of a personal computer.
The Computer Access New Zealand Trust is meanwhile searching for additional sponsors to support a series of e-waste collections that it hopes to hold around the country in October, saying it does not expect a product stewardship scheme to be in place for the computer industry for two or three years.
Canz hopes to collect 1000 tonnes of e-waste from collections in 30 towns and cities, where consumers will be able to drop off unwanted computer equipment for free. EDays will be held in Wellington, Masterton, Nelson, Napier and on the Kapiti coast.
Chairman Laurence Zwimpfer says the Waste Minimisation Bill is making good progress in Parliament. "EDay is helping plug the gap and buy New Zealand a little more time without generating new problems in our landfills."
But Mr Zwimpfer warns it may not be realistic for the Environment Ministry to expect the IT industry to agree voluntarily on the details of a product stewardship scheme.
"This is not an industry that works well collaboratively," he says.
By TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - The Dominion Post | Monday, 18 August 2008
In September 2007, the government released a cabinet paper of proposed legislation for a national waste levy, product stewardship, reporting requirements on waste data and a consolidation of waste legislation in a new bill.
New Zealanders are almost evenly split over paying 10c an item extra at shops to recycle packaging.
New waste minimisation law allows for compulsory recycling schemes. Implementing one for containers is estimated to cost at least 10 cents per item, according to packaging industry research.
A new nationwide ShapeNZ survey of nearly 2,397 people shows the country is split 36% for to 34% against any new per-item tax. Some 23% are neutral and 8% are not sure.
Manufacturing companies are increasing differentiating themselves by using Life Cycle Management as a point of competitive advantage in international markets. By learning how to manage the life cycle of products more effectively, companies can realise market opportunities and simultaneously improve environmental performance.
To read more about Life Cycle Management please click here
The Life Cycle Management project is a five year programe that aims to build LCM capability among New Zealand manufacturing companies
Read more about the project, who is involved and what its aims are. lcm_leaflet_2 1.12 Mb
A national approach for dealing with Australia's e-waste is closer to being realised, with the public invited to comment on proposed strategies.
The Ministry for the Environment has released the Waste Minimisation in New Zealand Discussion paper
Click here to read the document
Click here to visit the MFE website
The Ministry for the Environment have released the criteria for the Waste Minimisation Fund
The purpose of the Waste Minimisation Fund is to boost New Zealand’s performance in waste minimisation. There is considerable scope to reduce waste and increase the recovery of useful resources from waste. Lifting our performance in recovering economic value from waste also provides environmental, social and cultural benefits and reduces the risks of harm from waste.
This will require investment in infrastructure and systems for waste minimisation and developing educational and promotional capacity. The purpose of the fund is to provide some of the funding to ensure that this occurs.
A US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report on opportunities to cut greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions through improved management of materials and land notes that 37% of the country's total ghg emissions come from the provision and use of goods within the USA.
Media Release 27th May 2008
A proposed bill in the California State Assembly would require producers of certain products and packaging to change the materials they use and develop better ways to deal with the products when they're disposed of.
Thursday, 19 June 2008, Press Release: New Zealand Government
New waste legislation will offer economic incentives and rewards to businesses and councils who do their bit for waste reduction
OTTAWA — The federal government is contemplating a $35-million recycling program to keep its obsolete and unwanted computers and other gear out of the country's landfills, say newly released documents.
A draft analysis by the Public Works Department says a federal scheme is needed because some provinces lack programs to allow Ottawa to safely dispose of its used computers, fax machines and cellular phones.
"A federal program is still necessary over the next five years to ensure the end of life management of federal government IT equipment as . . . there is no guarantee as to when all provinces and the territories will have take-back programs in place," says the analysis, drafted last September.
A provincial agency is recommending Ontario scrap the $5 per tire "disposal" fee charged to drivers when they get rid of their old tires, and replace it with a levy charged to manufacturers and importers that they could pass on to consumers.
New Zealanders strongly support a levy on solid waste but they are divided on who should receive the money, according to survey results released by the Product Stewardship Foundation today.
The Product Stewardship Foundation (PSF) with New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development undertook a ShapeNZ survey of New Zealanders last week on Waste Levies and Product Stewardship. The survey had 2791 respondents with a margin of error of +/- 1.9%.
A new advisory board has been appointed to provide advice to the Environment Minister on issues relating to waste minimisation, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard said today.
Business leaders, community groups and local government step up to the Government’s challenge to develop a new packaging product stewardship scheme for New Zealand
The truck has been developed to collect some of the estimated 10 million plastic agrichemical containers disposed every year in New Zealand.
The challenge for business Organisations that understand that consumers are regarding them through a new green lens and respond to that shift will gain competitive advantage.
Read this interesting article from June 09 Managment magazine.
Hon Trevor Mallard Minister of Environment
15 April 2008 Speech Notes
Environment Minster Trevor Mallard's speech to the New Zealand Packaging Accord One Day Seminar, The Conference Centre, AUT Tech Park.
Television manufacturers have proposed a levy of about $30 on imported televisions sets to pay for the cost of recycling, and an industry agreement on how to pay for the environmentally-safe disposal of unwanted computers looks within reach.
Demand for recycled goods is down, causing a billion dollar industry to lose much of its steam. But another byproduct of the recycling industry's downturn is the creation of new opportunities.
PANASONIC BACKS PSA'S PLEA FOR TV RECYCLING
By Matthew Henry
SYDNEY: Panasonic today ramped up pressure on the Rudd government to implement a national recycling scheme for old TVs, calling for an industry-funded scheme to be operational within three to four years.
Panasonic’s pledge to lobby for the scheme follows a recent letter by Product Stewardship Australia on behalf of leading TV brands expressing frustration and disappointment at environment minister Peter Garrett’s inaction on the proposed scheme.
Businesses need to focus on how to make the most of new opportunities driven by the growing shortage of local and world natural resources. The newly elected chair of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, Bob Field, also chair of Toyota NZ Limited, says the planet’s resources are being stretched as never before by a growing population and higher standards of living.
New Zealand Herald
MP claims full support for levy on landfill waste
5:00AM Tuesday April 08, 2008
Green MP Nandor Tanczos says he has been given unanimous support from a select committee for his Waste Minimisation Bill that includes a $10-a-tonne levy on waste going to landfills.
The Ministry for the Environment as released its new Guide to Product Stewardship for Non-priority Products in the Waste Minimisation Act 2008
The purpose of this document is to provide:
The intended audiences for this document are:
Guide to Product Stewardship for Non Priority Products
