Victoria has the technological, economic and social capability and opportunity to become a global sustainability leader, particularly in the area of electronic waste, says VECCI.
According to VECCI Chief Executive Officer, Mr Wayne Kayler-Thomson, this is the conclusion of the Greening the Industrial Ecology Task Group, which has taken the example of one stream of wasted resources, electronic and electrical waste (e-waste), as a recycling blueprint to be replicated across other areas of industry and society.
The TaskGroup will present its findings at VECCI's Victoria SummitTM, to be held at Parliament House in Melbourne on 15 November 2007.
"E-waste is now one of the fastest growing waste streams in the Western world, increasing at three times the rate of municipal waste", says Mr Kayler-Thomson.
"As a nation, Australia generates over 32 million tonnes of solid waste each year making it one of the highest per-capita waste generators in the world. Victorians contribute significantly, generating approximately 10 million tonnes of waste or 2,000 kilograms per person per year.
"Australia reportedly recycles more than 46 per cent of all solid waste - however, the word 'recycling' could be confused with down-cycling and/or export of recyclates off-shore. More can be done to capture and truly recycle resources from waste.
"The potential market for recycled materials from household e-waste in Australia is conservatively estimated at over $50 million per year, reaching $500 million per year for precious metal-rich equipment such as mobile phones.
"The potential carbon savings from energy recovery from lower grade e-waste plastics originating from household e-waste is estimated at 320,000 tonnes or $6.4 million per year. The potential value of saved CO2 emissions from steel, copper and aluminium production from household e-waste is more than 300,000 tonnes or $6 million.
"Electronic and electrical products are an integral part of everyday lives and contribute significantly to our quality of life. Continual innovation and the desire for the latest technology has given these products shorter life-spans and consequently produced vast quantities of waste.
"As demand for these products grow, so does the need for an effective and efficient way to collect and recover the materials and energy contained within them.
"As such, we are recommending that the Victorian Government lead State and Territory Governments, with support from the Federal Government, to establish a national e-waste recovery industry group. This involves government, industry and community stakeholders to identify the information needed to do cost/benefit analyses and to cover information gaps and develop the policy framework for effectively dealing with e-waste to drive the move towards incorporating waste, and recovery of energy and recycling of materials, onto the national climate change agenda," says Mr Kayler-Thomson.
Recommendations:
Recommendation 1: A national approach
That the Victorian Government lead State and Territory Governments, with support from the Federal Government, to establish a national e-waste recovery industry group, involving government, industry and community stakeholders to:
- Identify the information needed to do cost/benefit analyses and to cover information gaps.
- Incorporate waste, and recovery of energy and recycling of materials onto the national climate change agenda.
- Drive shared investment in a robust material and energy recovery infrastructure from post consumer materials and help the dedicated recycling industries to achieve this.
- Research Best Available Technology (BAT) using comparative life cycle assessments of competing technologies and processes guided by measurable sustainability outcomes in relation to environmental, economic and social outcomes.
- Drive the development of smart, market driven focused regulation to provide motivation and incentives for industry to participate as well as disincentives for freeriders.
- Harmonise this with global activities as e-waste recycling is a global activity.
Recommendation 2: Design for sustainability and eco-Innovation
A role of the industry task group will be to drive market research and development in sustainable innovation and design including:
- Supporting Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to further their already large research activities in the design for sustainability of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment – European Union Directive (WEEE) goods.
- Research and development into the disposal of problematic materials addressing key issues associated with the restriction of hazardous substances. However, a well designed material and energy recovery system applying BAT mitigates this, even makes it superfluous.
Recommendation 3: Recycling and recovery technology
That material recycling and energy recovery technologies be explored.
Energy recovery should only be considered where material recycling or down-cycling are not economically achievable.
Energy recovery to be harmonised with design for sustainability principles so that there are incentives for improved design (close link to OEM).
Recommendation 4: Consumer empowerment
That an e-waste scheme be supported by the appropriate level of community and consumer education, highlighting that removing materials and energy from the earth in an unbalanced manner will eventually harm their future.
A greater understanding and transparency of the recycling system in view of the Basel Convention and of the global deportation and use of recycled materials in consumer products.
The three Rs of reconsider (a purchase), refurbish, recycle should be reinforced.
Stakeholder engagement should explore more innovative and inclusive strategies for involving retailers of new electrical and electronic products.
