In a few weeks, Australasia’s leading waste and recycling expo will feature a variety of GlobalPSC members from plenary talks to debate on e-waste futures.

Stan Krpan, CEO of Sustainability Victoria, will deliver the opening address and provide an environment portfolio CEO’s update. John Gertsakis, Chief Sustainability Officer for Infoactiv, will chair a debate on the future of e-waste that also features long-term GlobalPSC members Steve Morriss of Close the Loop and Carmel Dollison of ANZRP/TechCollect. Rose Read of AMTA/MobileMuster will chair and present at a session on going e-waste free in the workplace that also features Joel Newland of Infoactiv.

GlobalPSC members are eligible for a 10% discount on registration for the seminars. Contact us directly for the code to access the discount. Expo attendance itself is free but registration is still required.

Program details are available here.

Recycling in a Global Economy
SMC Conference & Function Centre, 66 Goulburn Street, Sydney
9:00am to 1:00pm

The Global Product Stewardship Council and its members invite you to our latest thought leadership forum featuring Adam Minter, the author of best-selling book Junkyard Planet. Adam is a third-generation scrap dealer turned journalist who’s spent over a decade living in Asia, examining recycling practices first-hand and sharing his insights.

The GlobalPSC and electronics recycler TES-AMM are pleased to provide this first Australian opportunity to hear and meet Adam Minter. Adam’s presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with Adam and other international experts on the implications of Adam’s insights for Australia. Participants will include:

• Anna Minns, General Manager TerraCycle Australia & New Zealand
• John Lingelbach, Executive Director of SERI
• Justin O’Sullivan, Executive Director – Sales Operations of Dell Australia
• Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of SMaRT Centre, UNSW Australia
• John Gertsakis, Chief Sustainability Officer of Infoactiv Group and Product Stewardship Advisory Group member
• Dr Helen Lewis, Principal of Helen Lewis Research and Australian Battery Recycling Initiative Chief Executive

Discussions will be facilitated by GlobalPSC CEO Russ Martin.

Join us to learn and discuss:

• How is economic growth in China driving demand for recycled materials?
• How does the global trade in recyclable materials affect recycling in countries like the US and Australia?
• How can we ensure responsible recycling practices, particularly for e-waste and plastics?
• How do changing economic conditions both help and hurt recycling and reuse, especially for electronics?
• What role will the informal sector play in the future of recycling?
• What are the implications of global material flows for product stewardship?
• What are incentives and drivers for incorporating Design for Environment and the circular economy in product stewardship?

Registrations are $275 (GST-incl) for non-members of the GlobalPSC and $125 (GST-incl) for GlobalPSC members. Registration and payment information is available here. A light lunch will be provided for registered attendees.

Proudly sponsored by TES-AMM, Dell, TechCollect and SERI.

Recycling in a Global Economy
SMC Conference & Function Centre, 66 Goulburn Street, Sydney
9:00am to 1:00pm

The Global Product Stewardship Council and its members invite you to our latest thought leadership forum featuring Adam Minter, the author of best-selling book Junkyard Planet. Adam is a third-generation scrap dealer turned journalist who’s spent over a decade living in Asia, examining recycling practices first-hand and sharing his insights.

The GlobalPSC and electronics recycler TES-AMM are pleased to provide this first Australian opportunity to hear and meet Adam Minter. Adam’s presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with Adam and other international experts on the implications of Adam’s insights for Australia. Participants will include:

• Anna Minns, General Manager TerraCycle Australia & New Zealand
• John Lingelbach, Executive Director of SERI
• Justin O’Sullivan, Executive Director – Sales Operations of Dell Australia
• Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of SMaRT Centre, UNSW Australia
• John Gertsakis, Chief Sustainability Officer of Infoactiv Group and Product Stewardship Advisory Group member
• Dr Helen Lewis, Principal of Helen Lewis Research and Australian Battery Recycling Initiative Chief Executive

Discussions will be facilitated by GlobalPSC CEO Russ Martin.

Join us to learn and discuss:

• How is economic growth in China driving demand for recycled materials?
• How does the global trade in recyclable materials affect recycling in countries like the US and Australia?
• How can we ensure responsible recycling practices, particularly for e-waste and plastics?
• How do changing economic conditions both help and hurt recycling and reuse, especially for electronics?
• What role will the informal sector play in the future of recycling?
• What are the implications of global material flows for product stewardship?
• What are incentives and drivers for incorporating Design for Environment and the circular economy in product stewardship?

Registrations are $275 (GST-incl) for non-members of the GlobalPSC and $125 (GST-incl) for GlobalPSC members. Registration and payment information is available here. A light lunch will be provided for registered attendees.

Proudly sponsored by TES-AMM, Dell, TechCollect and SERI.

Australia has released a report on the first year outcomes of its National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS or Scheme).

Reports have also been made publicly available for the three approved co-regulatory arrangements that were operational in 2012–13: DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited, the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform Limited (ANZRP) and E-Cycle Solutions Pty Ltd. Two of the three approved co-regulatory arrangements, DHL Supply Chain and TechCollect/ANZRP, are GlobalPSC Sustaining Corporate members.

According to the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment, a Government member of the GlobalPSC:

“A total of 635 collection services, including drop off points at major electronics retailers and local government and other waste facilities, as well as temporary collection events, were provided by the three co-regulatory arrangements between the commencement of the Scheme and the end of June 2013.

“An estimated total of 137,756 tonnes of televisions and computers reached end of life in Australia in 2012–13. Industry’s target under the scheme was to recycle 30 per cent of this amount, or 41,327 tonnes. A total of 40,813 tonnes of recycling was achieved, equivalent to 98.8 per cent of the scheme target and almost double the estimated level of recycling prior to the scheme’s introduction. DHL Supply Chain and E-Cycle Solutions exceeded their recycling targets, while ANZRP fell short of its recycling target. E-waste not covered by the scheme target remained the responsibility of state, territory and local governments. National data is not available on the amount of e-waste recycling that occurred outside the scheme in 2012–13.”

TechCollect is an Australia-wide recycling service for old computer and accessories, printers and TVs. It is part of a big effort by industry and the Australian government to reduce the amount of electronic waste that goes into landfill through the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.

TechCollect is funded by some of the world’s leading technology importers and manufacturers, and was set up by the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform Limited (ANZRP), the only not-for-profit e-waste recycling service approved by the government under the Scheme.

Some key outcomes under the Scheme include:

• Give all Australians reasonable access to an e-waste collection service by December 2013;
• Increase recycling of e-waste diverted from landfill from 10-17% to 30% in the first year;
• Aim to increase recycling of e-waste to 80% by the year 2021–2022; and
• Ensure that 90% of raw materials are recovered during the recycling process for reuse.

The TechCollect program provides the Australian community with services that enable them to safely dispose of their e-waste and have it recycled for free.

ANZRP is required to collect and recycle a specific volume of e-waste each financial year and provide ‘reasonable access’ to e-waste collection services across Australia, as defined by regulation. The target is calculated from the volume to be recycled (liability) for the scheme based on the number of televisions and computers and their peripherals that are manufactured and imported in Australia each year. ANZRP’s volume is then determined from this and is based on the volume imported and manufactured by its members (as liable parties). As at 30 June 2014, ANZRP had successfully met its volume and ‘reasonable access’ targets for the second year of the scheme.

Liable parties may also run their own recycling programs – known as Individual Producer Responsibility programs (IPR). The volume of e-waste recycled from these programs is reported through the ANZRP/TechCollect. The volume from the IPR counts towards the volume of e-waste TechCollect must collect and recycle.

TechCollect ensures its recycling standards focus on keeping old technology out of landfill in Australia and overseas, and protecting the health and safety of workers.

All products collected by TechCollect are recycled. They are broken down in Australia into their individual parts and materials. The components and materials are then processed so that the valuable resources can be recovered and reused when manufacturing new products.

ANZRP evolved from the joint work of the AIIA Environmental Special Interest Group (ESIG) members being 13 major IT brands and the PSA (Product Stewardship Association formed by CESA) representing the major TV brands. This group representing industry played a significant role in the formation of the Product Stewardship Act and Regulations and in the development of the Interim Industry Standard.  ANZRP’s establishment has been funded by the AIIA ESIG members and has their full support.

The Global Product Stewardship Council is pleased to be partnering with the Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE) to hold a panel discussion on product stewardship implementation. The panel has now sold out prior to the event.

The panel will help attendees understand some of the opportunities and challenges of product stewardship, with particular emphasis on Australia’s new TV and computer recycling scheme.

The AWRE is taking place 21 and 22 November at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.

The product stewardship panel discussion will take place on 22 November from 3:10 to 4:30 pm. Confirmed speakers include:

• Steve Rust, Managing Director of Panasonic Australia Pty Ltd;
• Peter Brisbane, Director, Television and Computer Regulator Team for the Australian Government’s Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities;
• Carmel Dollisson, General Manager of Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform Limited; and
• Peter Bruce, Director – Service Parts Logistics, Australia for DHL Supply Chain.

The GlobalPSC will be facilitating the panel.

Steve will provide a large manufacturer’s perspective, including the importance of ensuring that the scheme works properly and the importance of being able to demonstrate responsible recycling of products. Carmel and Bruce will provide the perspective of approved arrangements responsible for delivering key outcomes of the scheme and the issues they face in doing so.

A facilitated panel discussion will follow short presentations by the expert panel members.  These key TV& computer scheme participants will provide the opportunity to answer questions such as:

• What issues are critical to successful implementation of the scheme?
• What is the business case for product stewardship?
• How could local governments miss out on product stewardship and what can they do to not miss out?

The AWRE is the largest and most highly attended waste and recycling trade show in Australia. Now in its third year, the AWRE offers everyone in the industry an opportunity to showcase innovation, network with key waste & recycling decision makers from industry and government and attend high quality practical waste & recycling management seminars and workshops on key topics.

AWRE registration is free for all industry professionals.