E- Waste: What’s Happening in Europe Zandy Tibballs Metropolitan Waste Management Group

1. E- Waste: What’s Happening in Europe Zandy Tibballs Metropolitan Waste Management Group 30 September 2014 AWARE E-waste Tour Boroondara Transfer Station

2. Overview • European approach to managing Product Wastes • Impacts of EU’s “Integrated Product Policy” • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) • What is EPR • Its effects and opportunities • Electronic and Electrical Waste (E-Waste) in Europe • Summary • References

3. European Union (EU) Approach • Provision of a strong regulatory environment • Development of an “integrated product policy approach” –treaty of Amsterdam, 1997 • A whole lifecycle approach to managing impacts of products– from product design through to end of life (EOL)

4. Impacts of the EU’s “Integrated Product Policy” Recognition: • Products (consumerism) were the main cause of pollution and wastes • Responsibility for collection of EOL product wastes should lie with producers/manufacturers Result: • A “polluter pays principal” through legislative or tax mechanisms was able to be enforced by the EU on signatory countries • EPR policies introduced - enforcing producers and manufacturers to take responsibility for their product waste

5. Extended Producer Responsibility What is EPR? A tool/policy/mechanism for: • Reducing product wastes & their environmental impacts at EOL • Producers/manufacturers to ‘take back and recover’ their products • Shifting the waste management problem and costs from the public/tax payer and local/state govt onto the producer and the consumer

6. How Its Implemented Usually, in the form of: • EOL product take-back schemes with set targets • Voluntary agreements or covenants with industry to achieve targets • Economic instruments such as deposit/refund schemes (beverage containers or mobile phones) • Product disposal charges • Environmental labelling requirements • Environmental procurement programs • Minimum recycled content requirements

7. EPR – Its Flow On Effects • Changing how products are designed, produced and disposed • Design specifications – energy efficient, recyclability, disassembly, toxic-free materials • Cleaner production strategies • Take-back schemes for repair, refurbishing or recycling “What is good for the environment is good for business.” Graham Cavanagh-Downs, Director, Manufacturing and Supply, Fuji Xerox, Australia P/L,1998

8. Why? Improve market positioning and market image New business paradigm / growth opportunity Seen to act responsibly Avoid the risk of fines, penalties or higher taxes Develop and strengthen technical competencies Influence the direction of regulations/legislation Save money and use raw materials more efficiently EPR – Opportunities • Companies investing heavily in new processes, systems, production technologies and design methods. (Sources: Gertsakis et al, 1998 & Glover, 2006)

9. In Managing E-Waste • The EU & its member states are taking measures to: • Prevent the generation of electrical and electronic waste • Promote the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of e-waste • Improve the environmental performance of operators involved in the industry • Restrict the use of hazardous substances in this type of equipment.

10. E-Waste Categories • Directives introduced in 2002 (WEEE) & 2003 (use of hazardous materials) covering the following e-waste categories: • Large and small household • appliances; • IT and telecommunications equipment; • Lighting equipment; • Toys, leisure and sports equipment; 7m WEEE Man -amount ofwasteelectricalandelectronic productsthrown away by an average UK citizen in a lifetime –3t

11. E-Waste Categories (ctd) • Medical devices (with the exception of implanted and infected products); • Monitoring and control instruments; • Automatic dispensers • Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools);

12. Content of Directives • Product design • Separate collection –from Aug 2005,2006,2008 • Treatment • Recovery –targets of 70 -75% by 2006. Revise in 2008 • Financing –from 2005 • Information –from 2005 • Reporting and penalties –first:2004-2006 period • Use of certain hazardous materials –from 2006

13. In Summary • EPR works in a strong regulatory environment • Shifts the responsibility onto producers, retailers and their customers • Promotes sustainability principles • Creates new business opportunities, and • Reduces waste to landfill

14. Further Information Environment Victoria’s website: www.envict.org.au View Electronic Waste and Producer Responsibility pages Europa website: http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/s15002.htm WEEE Man: http://www.weeeman.org Gertsakis, J., Morelli, N., & Ryan, C., ‘ Return to Sender - An Introduction to Extended Producer Responsibility’, Centre for Design-RMIT, August1998 Van Rossem,C et al, EPR: ‘An Examination Of Its impact On Innovation and Greening Products’, The Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics, Report Commissioned by Greenpeace International, Friends of The Earth Europe and the European Environmental Bureau, http://www.envict.org.au/file/EPR-Eco-Design-280906.pdf Email: zandy.tibballs@mwmg.vic.gov.au Phone: 8698 9809 Thankyou