Forum discusses the future of e-waste

The ‘E-Waste or E-Resource?’ future forum took place on 28 June.

Hosted by the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP), the forum discussed the federal product stewardship legislation and whether it is enabling resource efficiency and the emerging circular economy. It also aimed to increase awareness of the ease and importance of recycling, as well as extending the conversation on waste as a resource and the future of e-waste.

The event featured a panel moderated by advertising executive Matt Perry, Chair of the Centre for Sustainable Leadership and co-founder of Republic of Everyone. Panellists included:

• The New Inventors panellist, author of The Sixth Wave and former Executive Director of Development, CSIRO, James Bradfield Moody
• Managing Director of Panasonic and ANZRP member Steve Rust
• Assistant Director of Product Stewardship Regulator Section, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Michael McGee

McGee commented that many electronic products contain potentially hazardous materials and the majority of Australian landfills are not lined to prevent these substances leaking out into the broader environment; thus, it is paramount that these products do not reach landfill. According to Moody, e-waste is less of a problem in China, where it is seen as a valuable resource.

Premature waste disposal is a concern not just restricted to electronics. Moody noted that over 100 billion items are sold each year which - for various reasons - will not see their full lifespan, and so will end up in landfill. He said it is important that usable items are passed on, whether given away or sold.

Rust said products should be designed to maximise their efficiency once they do reach end of life. That means designing products which can be pulled apart and made into new products, as well as being easier to recycle. This idea is backed up by Moody’s book The Sixth Wave, in which he claims we are moving into an age that will see waste as a resource rather than a problem.

The CEO of ANZRP’s not-for-profit recycling program TechCollect, Carmel Dollisson, announced at the event that TechCollect has set a new Guinness World Record for the most e-waste collected for recycling in one week. The campaign saw over 474 tonnes of old TVs, computers, printers and accessories collected by TechCollect across Australia.

This bodes well for McGee, who predicted at the forum that in the future, e-waste recycling will be an ingrained behaviour, with people taking shared responsibility for the impacts on human health, the environment and lost resources.