First e-waste recycler signs under new rules

The Federal Government has announced DHL Supply Chain Australia as the first e-waste recycler to be approved under the new product stewardship legislation introduced in June last year.

According to the government, DHL will now be able to collect and recycle products on behalf of TV and computer manufacturers importing products into Australia.

Recycling of gadgets and electronics at a national level is crucial, according to Senator Don Farrell, parliamentary secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water.

"Televisions and computers contain valuable non-renewable resources, including gold and other precious metals, as well as hazardous materials, including lead, bromine, mercury and zinc. By recycling them, we can recover useful materials, and at the same time reduce health and environmental risks," he said.

The senator added that more providers would come on-board soon.

"Having a variety of providers is expected to lead to more options, both for the community, in how they dispose of unwanted televisions and computers, and for manufacturers and importers, in terms of which provider they join. It is vital to the scheme's success that organisations applying to establish a co-regulatory arrangement are able to demonstrate that they can meet the scheme's strict operating criteria, and I congratulate DHL for doing just that."

The Product Stewardship Bill was passed into law last year in a bid to reduce Australia's spiralling e-waste problem.