eWasteNZ
E-Waste Product Stewardship
WasteMINZ Annual Conference & Expo 2014
Wellington, New Zealand
22 October, 2014
eWasteNZ Project Team
[email protected] or 0800 757 777
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Introduction to the Project
• Minister for Environment approved funding from Waste Minimisation Fund
to assist in the development of an e-waste product stewardship
framework for NZ
• Delivered through significant stakeholder engagement and consultation,
collection and analysis of NZ e-waste data, and robust analysis of product
stewardship options for e-waste
• Project to draw on domestic and international experience from
development and implementation of product stewardship schemes
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
eWasteNZ Product Stewardship Project Phases
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Defining the Problem / Opportunity
• One of the fastest growing waste streams in the world
• Potential negative environmental impacts of e-waste items and
their batteries
• Resource loss
• Supply chain risk
• Economic benefits of recovery
• Significant data gaps on e-waste generation in NZ
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Defining the Problem / Opportunity
• Address critical shortages of rare materials
• Precious metal recovery far richer than ore
• Urban mining addresses material scarcity and reduces
environmental impacts of extraction and initial processing
• Reduced impacts of landfilling
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
The New Zealand Context
• Waste Minimisation Act (WMA) passed September 2008
• 11 accredited voluntary product stewardship schemes under WMA
• Priority Product Declaration under WMA
• Reported low participation and recycling rates in most
• Various parties seek level playing field
• IT/TV Product Stewardship Scheme Working Group
• Central government–facilitated projects (Waste Minimisation Fund)
• Council initiatives
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Different Approaches to e-Waste Management
• Australia’s National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
(NTCRS)
• recycling targets from 30% in 2012-13 to 80% in 2021-22
• ‘reasonable access’ free for consumers
• material recovery target
• regulatory intervention wasn’t justified without consumer willingness
to pay for increased e-waste recycling
• Other international examples
• EU WEEE Directive little relevance to NZ
• US scope varies significantly
• Taiwan steadily increased scope and product-specific fees
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Options
• Scope of items to address
• Phasing / Priorities
• Regulatory and non regulatory tools
• Certification and standards
• Performance measures
• Reporting
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Stakeholder Workshop 1 – 19 September, Auckland
• 45 diverse stakeholders + project team and MfE
• Background and questions from Preliminary
Report
• 8 stakeholder discussion groups
• Collective reporting of results
• Results compiled and summarised
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Stakeholder Workshop 1 – Representatives From:
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Stakeholder Workshop 1 – Barriers Include:
•
“Who pays?” “Consumers will not pay for recycling at the point of disposal.”
•
Cost of comparable options – low disposal costs, high recycling costs, etc.
•
Recycling - inconsistencies of standards, infrastructure, economic value
•
Lack of public education and awareness on the issue
•
Free-riders vs. responsible brand owners
•
Implementation of WMA and export legislation
•
Lack of processing options
•
Transport / logistics – cost, distribution, distance from international markets
•
Debate over voluntary vs. mandatory approaches
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Stakeholder Workshop 1 – Opportunities Include:
•
Manufacturers / importers – Design for Environment
•
Consumers – access
•
Recyclers – level playing field – bring the recycling industry to the Standard – need
to be registered – cost of this needs to be recognised
•
Transport / logistics – standards, licensing, service providers
•
Increase the percentage of materials recycled / recovered
•
Scope for all electrical and electronic equipment utilising infrastructure
•
Communication across sectors
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Stakeholder Workshop 1 – Other Feedback
•
Voluntary approaches to date were generally seen as not being effective, or at
least as being limited in their ultimate outcomes
•
Despite a lack of NZ-specific data, e-waste is a significant issue to be addressed
•
Many stakeholders are prepared to act, but legislation may be needed (especially
for some items) for fairness and certainty that others will share the responsibility
•
An appropriate regulatory framework for taking action and addressing free-riders
is available through WMA
•
Government needs to lead and to enforce
•
Extensive overseas experience is available – don’t reinvent the wheel
•
NZ has some differences and challenges, but they shouldn’t delay action
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
Stakeholder Workshop 1 – Other Feedback (cont’d)
•
Possible scope should be defined broadly and clearly, with toxic or hazardous
items generally seen as a priority and a range of other possible priorities being
available – any phasing over time should be clear from the start
•
Debate whether to be all-inclusive from the start or being product-specific
•
Scheme should be as simple as possible to administer
•
Scheme should be outcomes-based and not overly prescriptive
•
Collections should be free to, and convenient for, consumers
•
Costs should be reasonable and shared equitably – various options floated
•
Consumers are likely to be willing to pay, especially if fees are up-front, they
understand the need and convenient collection options are available
eWasteNZ - E-Waste Product Stewardship
eWasteNZ
Q&A
[email protected] or 0800 757 777