This consultation closed on 29 June 2018. Documents remain available for reference only.
The Act is required to be reviewed five years after commencement, and this is the first review. The department undertook the review and consultation process.
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What is product stewardship?
Product stewardship is an approach to managing the impacts of different products and materials. It acknowledges that those involved in producing, selling, using and disposing of products have a shared responsibility to ensure those products or materials are managed in a way that reduces their impact, throughout their lifecycle, on the environment and on human health and safety.
What is the Product Stewardship Act 2011?
The Product Stewardship Act 2011 provides the framework to effectively manage the environmental, health and safety impacts of products, and in particular those impacts associated with the disposal of products and their associated waste. The framework includes voluntary, co-regulatory and mandatory product stewardship. The passage of the legislation delivered on a key commitment by the Australian Government under the National Waste Policy; a policy that was agreed by governments in November 2009 and endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments in October 2010.
The Act supports the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) through the Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011. The scheme has recycled more than 360,000 tonnes of electronic waste since its inception. This review was also informed by an evaluation of the NTCRS.
The Minister’s Product List is also established by the Act and tabled in Parliament. The list informs the community and industry of the identified priority products and communicates the government’s expectations for industry-led action.
Final report and Government Response
The Final Report on the review was tabled before Parliament on 8 July 2020.
The review addressed:
- the extent to which the objects of the Act are being met and whether they remain appropriate
- the effectiveness of the accreditation of voluntary product stewardship schemes and the Minister’s annual Product List in supporting product stewardship outcomes
- the operation and scope of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
- the interaction of the Act with other Commonwealth, state, territory and local government legislation, policy and programs, and
- international and domestic experience in the use of product stewardship to deliver enhanced environmental, social and economic outcomes through product design, dissemination of new technologies and research and development.
The report includes 26 recommendations in relation to the operation of the Act and the NTCRS, which were supported by the Australian Government.
The findings of the review are welcomed, and the department has commenced actions to implement the recommendations.
Consultation paper
The department developed a paper to guide the consultation that informed the review and provide information to stakeholders.
Review of the Product Stewardship Act 2011, including the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme - consultation paper (PDF - 2.11 MB)
Review of the Product Stewardship Act 2011, including the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme - consultation paper (DOCX - 4.51 MB)
You can also read about the NTCRS evaluation in the independent report.
National Product Review forum
As part of the consultation process, the department held free public meetings in all capital cities across Australia between 16 May and 13 June, 2018. This was an opportunity to interact with the review, learn more about key issues and initiatives, and have your say. Interested stakeholders, including federal, state, territory and local government representatives, business and industry, non-government and community groups and the general public were invited to attend.
Further targeted consultation was held in 2019, in order to address specific matters raised.
You can download the presentation delivered at the public forums to learn more.
Forum presentation (PDF - 2.49 MB)
Forum presentation (PPTX - 2.69 MB)