New front opens in waste battle

Green groups have launched a campaign to make industry take back products such as computers and televisions at the end of their life cycle, warning they will push for regulations if recycling schemes are not forthcoming this year.



The Sydney Morning Herald reports that computers contain a number of hazardous materials, such as lead, cadmium and fire retardants.



A report for Environment Australia two years ago warned that by 2006 1.6 million computers would be disposed of in landfill, and 1.8 million sent to storage, on top of the 5.3 million already stored. In 2001 NSW introduced the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act to encourage industry to introduce schemes that are commonplace in Europe, including refund systems and a recycling levy when products are sold. The act favours self-regulation but allows the Environment Protection Authority to recommend regulations if action is not forthcoming.



In February the EPA issued a list of 15 products it was targeting as priorities, including computers, TVs, NiCad batteries and tyres.



“Poor product design is to blame for the rising mountains of landfill surrounding our cities,” said Jeff Angel, director of the Total Environment Centre. “Products such as computers are toxic cocktails of lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. “When they go to landfill they can leach into the environment, posing a threat to the community’s health and to ecosystems.”



Mr Angel said dumping these products was a huge waste of valuable, non-renewable resources such as gold, platinum and silver. “Requiring producers to take back their products sends a long overdue message for them to make their products cleaner and less wasteful.”



The Australian Information Industries Association recently completed a pilot recycling programme for computers in western Sydney, and is assessing the results. But the industry will now be under pressure to implement a more far-reaching scheme. The EPA is also scrutinising existing recycling programmes, such as that of the mobile phone industry. Since 1999, more than 30 tonnes of mobile phone batteries – enough to fill a small suburban house – were collected and recycled. The recycled nickel from the batteries is used in making stainless steel, cadmium finds its way back into new batteries, plastics are used in furniture and small amounts of gold and copper are also retrieved. More than 700 stores are taking part in the recycling programme.



The EPA wants to extend recycling to rechargeable batteries in laptops, cordless appliances and some emergency equipment.