This week is National Recycling Week and we’ve taken a significant step towards the Gillard Labor Government’s National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
The industry-led scheme, which will boost the national recycling rate for televisions and computers to 80 per cent by 2020, came a step closer today with the commencement of regulations under the landmark Product Stewardship Act.
These measures mean that industry-run TV and computer collection and recycling services will soon be rolled out across the country.
From 2012, households and small businesses will be able to drop off unwanted televisions or computers at designated service points, free of charge.
This is particularly important in the Inner West, where the scheme will dramatically reduce this common and expensive form of waste.
A national recycling scheme for televisions and computers will provide a safe, environmentally friendly solution for households in the Inner West wondering what to do with old TV’s and computers when they reach the end of their useful life.
TV’s and computers contain valuable materials like gold, glass and plastics that can be re-used. They also contain hazardous materials like lead, bromine, mercury and zinc that are better kept out of the environment.
Nationally, only 10 per cent of televisions and computers were being recycled in 2007 and are an increasing part of the waste stream.
It’s estimated there were around 16 million TV’s and computers in Australia in 2007 and that number is expected to grow to more than 44 million by 2027.
This scheme is good for households, good for the environment and good for local councils.
Over time it will help reduce the eyesore of unwanted TVs and computers littered on our streets, the burden of collection, and the difficult task of disposal.