consultation regulatory impact statement: televisions and computers

source: EPHC
"The regulatory impact statement assesses proposed options to address identified problems with end-of-life televisions and computers. This consultation regulatory impact statement does not propose to address the whole issue of end of life electrical and electronic products, but rather it is part of a proposed incremental approach."

Willingness to pay for e-waste recycling: final report

Source: EPHC
"There is little incentive for businesses to provide e-waste recycling services, as the cost involved in collection and processing far outweighs the possible value of materials recovered. Given that community concern exists about the low level of recycling currently undertaken, this project's objective was to determine if that concern would translate into a willingness to pay (WTP) for higher levels of recycling achieved via government intervention."

A national TV recycling program

Source: Product Stewardship Australia
"Australian TV suppliers have proposed a permanent national TV collection, recycling
and community education scheme that could be ready to roll-out within six months. It
would be funded solely by suppliers provided there is effective Federal regulatory
underpinning to deal with free-riders or companies indifferent to their environmental
obligations."

Draft national waste policy framework

source: Dept. of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
"The draft Framework includes aims, a vision, principles, themes and key directions for change. These themes, key directions for change and their underlying principles encompass the views put forward by participants during the consultation process. Comments are being sought from individuals, community groups, businesses, industry and governments on the draft Framework. This includes ideas on priority strategies and actions that could effect improvements in one or more of the key directions identified in the draft Framework."

Marine litter: a global challenge

Source: UNEP
"Marine litter is a global concern affecting all the oceans of the world. It poses environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problems that are rooted in poor solid waste management practices, lack of infrastructure, indiscriminate human activities and behaviours and an inadequate understanding on the part of the public of the potential consequences of their actions. The report’s findings indicate that despite several international, regional and national efforts to reverse marine pollution, alarming quantities of rubbish thrown out to sea continue to endanger people’s safety and health, entrap wildlife, damage nautical equipment and deface coastal areas around the world."

A national waste policy: managing waste to 2020: consultation paper

Source: Dept. of the Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts
"The purpose of this consultation paper is to seek input from individuals, community groups, businesses, industry and governments on the priority issues to be considered in the development of a national waste policy and how these might be addressed."

Waste avoidance and resource recovery progress report 2008

Source: NSW Dept. of Environment and Climate Change
"The 2008 'Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Progress Report' tracks recycling progress in the municipal, commercial and industrial, and construction and demolition sectors against targets outlined in the NSW Government’s waste strategy. According to the report, NSW is “tracking well” to meet the state’s 2014 recycling targets. The report states the recycling rate for the whole of NSW has increased from 46% in 2004-2005 to 52% of total waste created in 2006-2007. However, while a greater proportion of waste is being recycled in NSW, the report also finds the state generated more waste in 2006-2007 than was produced in 2004-2005."

Tipping point: Australia's e-waste crisis

Source: Total Environment Centre
"About 168 million electronic waste items will either be dumped in landfill or be destined for landfill by the end of 2008, a new report has found. The report by the Total Environment Centre says the lack of environmentally responsible recovery options for electronic waste has reached crisis point.In light of the report, the Total Environment Centre has called on state and federal environment ministers to implement an e-waste recycling system to prevent the number of e-waste items in Australia’s landfills rising to more than 200 million by 2010."

Electronic waste: EPA needs to better control harmful U.S. exports through stronger enforcement and more comprehensive regulation

Source: GAO
"In a harsh review of U.S. hazardous waste laws, independent government investigators highlighted the need for improved regulation of electronic waste in a new report. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released last week said a `substantial quantity` of discarded electronics, such as computers, televisions, and cell phones, are sent to the developing world where they are dismantled in conditions unsafe to workers and dangerous to the environment."

Management of Australia's waste streams

Source: Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts
"There are several significant drivers, such as climate change and water scarcity, that are changing the waste debate, according to this report. In the committee's view waste policy needs to address issues that are relevant to its own sphere and at the same time, complement policies in other spheres particularly in relation to environmental protection, sustainable agriculture, productivity as well as transport and infrastructure."

CO2 impacts of transporting the UK's recovered paper and plastic bottles to China

Source: WRAP
"A new WRAP study has found that selling the UK’s used plastic bottles and paper for recycling in China actually saves carbon emissions. Shipping these materials more than 10,000 miles produces less CO2 than sending them to landfill at home and using brand new materials."

National litter index report 2007-08

Source: Keep Australia Beautiful
"New figures released by Keep Australia Beautiful show an overall decrease in littering on an Australia-wide basis. The 2007-2008 National Litter Index – which reports on litter by type, by location and by volume – shows that during 2007-2008, 68 items of litter were found per 1000 square metre site area, down from 74 litter items in the same area during 2006-2007.States to record litter items above the average of 68 items per 1000 square metres were: Western Australia (85 items); New South Wales (77 items) and Queensland (76 items)."

Wastewater reuse and recycling systems: a perspective into India and Australia

Source: International Water Management Institute
"With issues of climate change, increases in urban population and increased demand for water from competing sectors, wastewater recycling is becoming an important strategy to complement the existing water resources for both developing and developed countries and there are lessons, experiences, data and technology that can be shared for mutual benefit."

Chemical contamination at e-waste recycling and disposal sites in Accra and Korforidua, Ghana

Source: Greenpeace
"The global market for electrical and electronic equipment continues to expand, while the lifespan of many products becomes shorter. Consequently, the waste stream of obsolete electrical and electronic products, commonly called “e-waste”, is also vast and growing, with estimates of 20-50 million tonnes per year being generated worldwide. Many of the products contain numerous hazardous chemicals and materials, and therefore the recycling and disposal of e-waste poses a threat to the environment and to human health."

The food we waste

"This ground-breaking report was launched on 8 May 2008. It provides, for the first time, an objective assessment of the amounts and types of food we buy but don’t eat.
It is a call to action for government, retailers, food manufacturers, NGOs and all of us, in our role as consumers, to reduce the food we waste."