Should e-waste be banned from Victoria's landfills?

Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville is inviting feedback on the Andrews Labor government’s plan to ban electronic waste from the state’s landfills.

Banning e-waste such as old TVs, computers and whitegoods from landfill in Victoria will reduce waste going into landfill, increase recovery of valuable resources and support jobs and investment in the recycling industry. As noted by Neville, “Developing a better plan for e-waste will help create jobs, grow our recycling industry and preserve our environment for all Victorians to enjoy.”

However, Neville acknowledged that removing such a significant source of waste from landfills will require action from the community, as well as recyclers and landfill managers. She said, “An e-waste landfill ban will require change in the way that industry, community and local government manage e-waste. It’s critical that we work together to understand the impacts and develop the best approach.”

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), in partnership with the Environment Protection Authority, Sustainability Victoria and Victoria’s waste and resource recovery groups, has now released a consultation paper to help develop the best approach to ban e-waste from landfill. DELWP wants to hear people’s thoughts on a range of topics relating to e-waste, including the problems with e-waste, information about the recycling industry and its future role in e-waste recovery, and barriers to recycling e-waste today.

“We want to hear the views of communities, industry bodies and recyclers about the proposed ban on dumping e-waste in our landfills,” Neville said.

The discussion paper is available for feedback until 1 November. Feedback can be provided at http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/e-waste.