Extended producer responsibility

We know to move towards a zero waste  future the focus needs to be on the higher end of the waste hierarchy - avoid or reduce, reuse and recycle. 

One of the areas of most importance is Extended Producer Responsibility or a Producer Responsibility Schemes (PRS). It provides incentive for better design and product choice from producers, manufactures and retailers by requiring them to pay for the end of life recycling of these products. Or to put it in simple words a 'take-back scheme'.

A good example is the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme which provides access to collection and recycling services for televisions and computers. Our household chemical and e-waste drop-offs  are part of this scheme. 

The following Producer Responsibility Schemes exist in Australia:

• Televisions and Computers
• Mattress recycling through the social enterprise Soft Landing
• Mobile Phones through Mobile Muster
• Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) through Fluoro Cycle 
• Paints through Paintback
• Tyres through Tyre Stewardship Australia
• Batteries through B-cycle Battery Recycling
• Clothing through National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme

What you can do to support the call for Extended Producer Responsibility

The more consumers demand from producers the quicker they will listen. Next time you purchase an item ask the producer if they have a recycling or take-back scheme. If they don't encourage them to start one.

You can even email a company and ask for information on their Extended Producer Responsibility. If they don't have one, again encourage them to start one.