encycle news

EMRC implement innovative fluorescent light globe recycling stations

 The local government body, Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) are undertaking an extensive trial of public collection points for the spiral shaped, low energy compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs). Encycle Consulting and Eco Change Consulting have been working with EMRC to develop the trial and to monitor effectiveness over a 12 month period. Collection points are in place at shopping centres and Bunnings stores around the Eastern Region of Perth.

National Waste Policy and Extended Producer Responsibility for electronic waste

Product stewardship and extended producer responsibility are outlined as key policy areas for the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) in the National Waste Policy. In November 2009, the EPHC announced that a ‘ National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme’ would be implemented across Australia, and in May 2010 the Federal Minister for Environment announced that implementation was on track for 2011. A working group including the computer and television industry associations has been formed to establish planning, policy and operational aspects of the scheme. Encycle understands that producers will be responsible for recycling of electronic waste, and is pleased that these valuable resources will be diverted from landfill.

Compost Contract Comes to a Close

Since February 2009 Liz Blakeway of Encycle has been the part-time industry development officer for Compost Western Australia . During the contract Liz has developed a suite of marketing materials including fact sheets, banners, posters and website content and she has organised seminars, conference stands, events and tours. The materials and events were part of a strategy designed to educate key market stakeholders about the various benefits of using compost and recycling of food and garden organic wastes. Liz is pictured with key compost stakeholders, both local and interstate.

wa news

New Waste Authority Chair

The Minister for Environment, the Hon. Donna Faragher has put out a call for a new Chairperson for the WA Waste Authority. Applications closed in late June and it is hoped that Mrs Faragher will be able to announce the new Chair very soon. See the Zero Waste website.
 

Recycling Directory for small business in Perth

The Commercial and Industrial waste working group of the Waste Management Association of Australia has developed and released a recycling directory aimed at small businesses in Perth who want to recycle but don’t know where to take their material. The Directory functions as an online interactive map and can also be downloaded as a pdf.

Waste Authority Awards 2010

Nominations are open until July 23rd for the Waste Authority’s inaugural Waste Awards to be presented at the 2010 Waste and Recycle Conference. The Awards are to acknowledge efforts achieved by industry, local government and the community in reducing waste whilst progressing the objectives of the Waste Authority.

national news

Levies rising in other states

In the Queensland Waste Management Strategy (published in June 2010), the raising of landfill levies to $35/tonne has been announced as a means to divert waste from landfill and encourage recycling. The new levy rate will be effective from 1st July 2011.  In Victoria, the landfill levy rates are set to rise against a staged set of increases that will be implemented over the next 5 years. In WA, despite recent increases, landfill levies are still lower than most of the other major states.
 

Tour of electronic waste (e-waste) recycling sites (‘ByteBack’ in Melbourne)

On 11 June 2010, Chairman Ron Norris of the Western Metropolitan Regional Council and Geraldine Busby from Encycle attended a tour of ‘ByteBack’ operations in Melbourne. ‘ByteBack’ was established as a pilot program for the collection and recycling of electronic waste by Sustainability Victoria and the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA). The tour included visits to collection points at council and social enterprise transfer stations and an Officeworks retail outlet as well as e-waste recycling facilities. Most states and territories were represented and the tour will inform not only policy making at the EPHC for the ‘National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme’ but also provide operational input on collection schemes at the Perth local government level. Encycle would like to thank our client WMRC for the opportunity to attend this tour.