WSP facilitates regulatory innovation in Australia | 19th Jul 2011

Both Houses of Parliament in Canberra, Australia, passed the Product Stewardship Bill in June 2011 to deliver a national 'Extended Producer Responsibility' approach to waste avoidance, resource recovery and product take-back, and WSP has been at the centre of driving this to fruition.

 

The first sectors to drive this new action on product take-back and recycling are the TV and ICT industries, represented by Product Stewardship Australia (PSA) and Australia Information Industry Association (AIIA) respectively. John Gertsakis, a Senior Associate with WSP in their specialist Digital team, part of the company's Environment & Energy business, has been seconded as Executive Director to PSA for the last 4 years. He has played a key role in advising consumer electronics manufacturers on the design of this scheme.

 

"We have witnessed regulatory innovation in the truest sense" says John. "The passing of this Bill highlights a progressive position by industry in Australia as well as a sophisticated policy development process led by the Government. The Bill represents an unmatched Australian example of positive cooperation between industry and Government."

 

WSP's John Gertsakis played a key role advising manufacturers such as Panasonic, Sony, Sharp, Sanyo, Hisense and LG on the design of a national collection, recycling and community education scheme for obsolete TV and IT equipment. He also liaised directly with Government and represented the electronics manufacturers to Departmental officials, Ministers and Members of Parliament across all political parties. John lobbied successfully on behalf of PSA members to put in place this regulation that is funded and implemented by the manufacturers themselves.

 

"Within the context of the Product Stewardship Bill, a co-regulatory approach ensures that no manufacturer or supplier of new TV and computer equipment can avoid their collection and recycling obligations" confirms John, "it's a step change approach to Product Stewardship."

 

PSA is a not-for-profit, industry-led organisation established to help recover and recycle electronic and electrical products in an environmentally sound manner. As a membership based organisation it develops and delivers appropriate solutions for end-of-life, or obsolete, electrical products on behalf of its members. Its members represent 70% of volume of TVs supplied into the Australian market.

 

The majority of materials in obsolete electronics can be recycled and processed into materials for the manufacture of new goods.

 

"This Bill will divert thousands of TVs from landfill every year and community recycling expectations will be met in a user-friendly way across the country" said John.  

 

Further information

 

Contact: John Gertsakis on + 0409 422 089 or john.gertsakis@wspgroup.com

 

Or visit: www.productstewardship.asn.au

 

For further information on our specialist Digital business, visit: http://www.wspdigital.com/