The scheme 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.

According to the group, the Federal Government has a “key role to play in ensuring that departments work co-operatively to deliver solutions that benefit the environment and the community.” In particular, the Australian Customs Service (ACS) and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), have the ability to enable significant product stewardship outcomes including resource recovery and toxics management.

But, a major barrier to the scheme has been the reluctance of Governments, in particular the Federal Government, to provide effective safety net regulation that can maximise the resource recovery benefits of an industry-wide recycling initiative.

Under PSA’s proposed TV collection and recycling scheme, there is an unmatched opportunity for the Federal Government to provide a very high level of administrative efficiency by simply conducting a ‘paper-based’ screening process to check whether TV importers are party to an Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC)-approved TV Product Stewardship scheme.

At present, all TVs are imported into Australia so it makes complete sense to ensure that any regulatory intervention is administered in the most efficient way. The import control method is by far the most economically responsible option to help maximise industry-wide involvement in TV Product Stewardship. Other options such as a National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM), which is enforced by seven different States and Territories, has “no place in a national TV recycling program and clearly demonstrates an irresponsible use of tax payers money to fund a fundamentally flawed and disjointed method of co-regulation.”

At a time when economic and environmental responsibilities are paramount, the EPHC, the Australian Government and its Departments need to demonstrate a solution-oriented approach to environmental protection and Product Stewardship more specifically. PSA’s proposed import control model can deliver such outcomes as opposed to a piecemeal NEPM approach – an approach which many States have “little or no confidence in.”

PSA chairman Laurie Nolan says, “The import control model will deliver the most efficient and effective method of both ensuring and directly encouraging all TV suppliers to wholeheartedly take on their Product Stewardship obligations. PSA is totally committed to funding and implementing a permanent national TV recycling scheme, however the EPHC and the Australian Government must provide an effective regulatory safety net sooner rather than later. This will provide the policy stability needed by industry to invest millions of dollars in running a permanent TV take-back scheme.

“The PSA’s scheme is straightforward and simply requires enabling regulation or legislation. Furthermore it’s funded solely by TV suppliers and places no burden whatsoever on retailers for the collection of disposal fees. The entire process will be managed by PSA and its contractors to ensure a user-friendly recycling service.”

PSA executive officer John Gertsakis says the forthcoming Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) meeting, to be held in Hobart in May 2009, is the Ministers’ “final chance to demonstrate their commitment to managing end-of-life electronic waste in Australia.

“Anything less than a Ministerial statement on delivering effective safety net regulation may result in the TV industry’s immediate withdrawal from current process-entrenched activities. The time has come for the Federal Environment Minister to stop outsourcing the creation of policy and regulatory barriers to consultants and studies, and take action on national e-waste policy and action.”

“For maximum environmental benefit, and to ensure a level playing field, it makes complete sense to ensure that any regulatory intervention is administered nationally, in the most efficient way. As all TVs are imported into Australia, the import control method using the Customs Service is by far the most economically responsible option to help maximise industry-wide involvement in TV recycling.”

To ensure that all TV suppliers importing TVs into Australia are well aware of their TV recycling obligations, PSA is proposing a twelve-month introductory phase so that all suppliers can be adequately prepared. This may include participating in PSA’s industry scheme, or developing their own permanent national individual take-back, recycling and education service, based on EPHC-approved targets and KPIs.

The scheme would ideally commence in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide, and migrate to all other urban centres, as well as rural and regional areas within a five-year timeframe, after which the scheme becomes an ongoing community service.