Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy ministers
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Australian Energy Employment Report survey

    Share insights to help the energy workforce plan for the future

    Find out more

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Our science strategy
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Environment
  3. Environment protection
  4. Waste and recycling
  5. Waste publications and data
  6. The role of recyclers in the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme - Fact sheet

Sidebar first - EN - Protection

  • Publications and data
    • Knowledge store
    • National Waste Reports
      • National Waste Report 2022
      • National Waste Report 2020
      • National Waste Report 2018
      • National Waste Report 2016
      • National Waste Report 2013
        • International obligations
        • Policies and governance
        • National data
        • National waste streams
        • State and territory data
        • Organic waste
        • Hazardous waste
        • Industry
        • Infrastructure
        • Community operations
        • Product stewardship
        • Mapping Tool
        • Data workbooks
        • Downloads
        • Frequently asked questions
      • National Waste Report 2010
    • Waste exports

The role of recyclers in the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme - Fact sheet

2015
Department of the Environment

FACT SHEET

Download
National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme - The role of recyclers (PDF 485.2KB)

This fact sheet provides recycling organisations with information about the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.

What is the Scheme?

The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme was established in 2011 to provide Australian householders and small businesses with access to industry-funded collection and recycling services for televisions and computers.

The objectives of the scheme are to:

  • Reduce waste to landfill, especially the hazardous materials found in e-waste
  • Increase recovery of reusable materials in a safe, scientific and environmentally sound manner
  • Provide access to recycling service for households and small businesses Australia wide.

The scheme has responded to high demand from the community for e-waste recycling services. To date, more than 130,000 tonnes of television and computer e-waste has been collected and recycled under the scheme. This has diverted hazardous materials away from landfill and enabled the reuse of valuable resources contained in e-waste.

The scheme has also created employment opportunities within the recycling sector, and assisted state, territory and local governments manage e-waste by providing alternative collection services.

How does the Scheme work?

Scheme recycling is paid for by companies who import television and computer products or manufacture them in Australia. This is a form of product stewardship where producers take responsibility for the whole lifecycle of their products.

Television and computer companies are responsible for funding a proportion of television and computer collection and recycling each year. E-waste management beyond scheme targets remains the responsibility of state, territory and local governments.

Each co-regulatory arrangement organises collection and recycling of e-waste through one or more recycling organisations on behalf of their liable party members. Each co-regulatory arrangement requires an administrator. The administrator is the body corporate responsible for administering the arrangement on behalf of members, and must ensure all reasonable steps are taken to meet outcomes specified in the Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011.

The Department of the Environment sets outcomes and monitors liable party and co-regulatory arrangement compliance with the Regulations. Day-to-day operation of the scheme, including contracting service providers, is the responsibility of the co-regulatory arrangements. The Department does not have a role in managing contractual disputes.

The scheme supplements state, territory and local government e-waste management. State, territory and local governments maintain a role in managing e-waste outside of the scheme, as needed.

The role of the recycler

Recycling organisations play a vital role in helping to manage and reduce e-waste.

As a recycler, there may be business opportunities to provide services to approved co-regulatory arrangements.

Arrangement administrators are required to assess the adequacy of environmental, health and safety policies and practices, and collection and recycling processes undertaken by their contracted recyclers. If you contract with an arrangement administrator, you will need to be able to demonstrate that you can meet all relevant requirements. You will also need to be able to provide them with information required for annual reporting under the Regulations.

From 1 July 2014 the Regulations include a material recovery target of 90 per cent. This target requires each co-regulatory arrangement to ensure that at least 90 per cent of the weight of the material processed by their contracted recyclers in the financial year is sent for further processing into useable materials. This is consistent with the estimated average material recovery rate currently being reported by Australian recyclers of televisions and computers.

Businesses operating in the e-waste recycling industry are responsible for their ongoing viability, and must be prepared for the competitive and often unpredictable natures of domestic feedstock supplies, international commodity markets and changing market conditions. Businesses should consider their operational requirements when negotiating agreed volumes of e-waste with a co-regulatory arrangement. It is also apparent that scheme recyclers who have diversified their operations with customers and business lines outside the scheme are better able to manage fluctuations in demand for their services.

Changes to the Scheme

An operational review of the scheme was announced in 2014 to consider what further adjustments could keep the scheme operating efficiently. Following extensive consultation with scheme stakeholders on proposed changes, the Australian Government is going ahead with the proposals which received strong public support and provide benefit to the community, while reducing costs to television and computer companies. These changes improve the operation of the scheme and ensure its ongoing success.

From time to time, the Department will make available relevant information about the market to ewaste recyclers to assist in business planning. The Department is also committed to working with co-regulatory arrangements on ongoing communications activities.

As an outcome of the review, the Department commissioned a report on e-waste recycling market trends and capacity to be made available to the recycling industry. A key finding of the report is that capacity in Australia’s e-waste recycling industry is sufficient to support increased targets, with annual capacity estimated to be 148,000 tonnes, and expansion beyond this figure possible within reasonable space, cost and equipment constraints and the ongoing management of health and safety in the workplace.

The Department is also implementing non-regulatory changes to enhance the scheme including improved stakeholder communication and an expectation that co-regulatory arrangements effectively communicate their contracting processes, particularly any changes in terms, to their service providers.

E-waste recycling and work, health and environment standards

The aim of the scheme is to reduce the impact of television and computer e-waste products on the environment and to reduce the impact that substances contained in these products have on people’s health and safety. As the rate of e-waste recycling increases nationally, it is essential that all stakeholders commit to best-practice health and safety and environmental processes.

From 1 July 2016, co-regulatory arrangements must ensure that scheme recycling is only done by recycling service providers that are certified to AS 5377: the Australian Standard for the collection, storage, transport and treatment of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment. This will ensure a consistent industry standard for scheme recycling providers and ensure positive work health and safety outcomes. This start date reflects requests from industry to allow adequate transition time.

Recycling targets

The Regulations set annual targets for recycling which are set as a percentage of the estimated amount of television and computer waste generated in a financial year (waste arising). Recycling is defined in the Regulations as the initial processing of the product for the purpose of recovering useable materials, and includes disassembly or shredding of the product.

From 1 July 2015, scheme recycling targets are increasing to better meet public demand and ensure stability and ongoing capacity in the e-waste recycling industry.

For the 2015-16 financial year, the target will be set at 50 per cent and will rise to 80 per cent in 2026-27. This target will enable the scheme to deal with legacy waste sooner. As the report on e-waste recycling market trends and capacity commissioned by the Department found, even at the highest point of the scheme’s planned reach, industry has indicated that it has surplus capacity to allow it to manage the additional volume. Recyclers should undertake their own business planning and negotiations with their relevant co-regulatory arrangements to estimate potential changes to the volume of e-waste feedstock available.

The cost of managing the 50 per cent of e-waste beyond scheme targets remains the responsibility of state, territory and local governments.

More information

For more information on the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme visit the Department of the Environment website at: www.environment.gov.au/ewaste or contact ewaste@environment.gov.au or call the Product Stewardship Line on 1800 332 783.

Factsheet last updated on 01/07/15

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 03 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.