Media release - 16 July
2009 - Minister for the Environment, Peter
Garrett, in his capacity as the Chair of
the Environment, Protection and Heritage
Council (EPHC), has called for comment on
a national approach to dealing with computer
and television waste.
The consultation package
includes a comprehensive analysis of the
community's willingness to pay for recycling
and provides options to promote discussion
on a way forward.
At its last meeting
the EPHC committed to finding a solution
to the growing problem of unwanted televisions
and computers, Mr Garrett said.
"This is the first
step in agreeing a solution, and we would
like the public to be a key part of this
process.
"Community response
to the consultation package will help pave
the way for new product stewardship arrangements."
The formal consultation
package includes the report on the choice
modelling study on recycling of televisions
and computers. This is the first time that
choice modelling has been used in a process
of this kind and it will provide a qualitative
assessment of community attitudes to this
issue. This report shows that the community
is willing to pay for a television and computer
recycling scheme.
The consultation package
also includes a Regulatory Impact Statement
(RIS). This document includes a cost-benefit
analysis which assesses a number of management
options aimed at increasing the recovery
and recycling of end-of-life televisions
and computers. These options include a business
as usual base case, a number of co-regulatory
(where industry runs the scheme and government
provides support through regulation) and
regulatory options.
"The preliminary
findings of the cost-benefit analysis are
positive with all options showing a net
benefit to the community. No one option
stands out as a preferred approach and the
outcome of the public consultation process
will help inform the final recommendation".
Mr Garrett said.
Public meetings will
be held in key cities as part of the consultation
process.
Written submissions
and comments close on Thursday 13 August
2009.
Find out more about
the consultation package and how to have
your say by visiting http://www.ephc.gov.au/
+ More
Government cuts emissions
and energy reporting red tape for business
Media release - 2 July
2009 - Companies required to report data
on their greenhouse gas emissions and energy
use will have their reporting red tape reduced,
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator
Penny Wong announced today.
At present, some companies
are required to provide the same or similar
data to up to eight different agencies in
different jurisdictions.
This process will now
be streamlined under an agreement between
the Commonwealth, state and territory governments
for a nationally consistent approach to
greenhouse and energy reporting.
Senator Wong said the
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting
Streamlining Protocol will help to reduce
the administrative burden for companies
when reporting to governments on a wide
range of greenhouse and energy information.
"This initiative
will reduce duplication created by the range
of measures that require businesses to report
greenhouse gas emissions and energy information,"
Senator Wong said.
"In extreme cases,
some companies are preparing up to eight
different reports for each different jurisdiction.
"The Protocol will
be used by all governments to streamline
reporting requirements for existing and
future greenhouse and energy programs and
to establish a standard national approach
for collecting greenhouse and energy information."
Senator Wong said streamlined
reporting would ensure more comprehensive
and consistent information was available
to both government and the public.
"This information
will be used to monitor the long-term effects
of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment
and better direct Australia's action on
climate change," Senator Wong said.
"Streamlining the
greenhouse energy reporting process into
a single, national system will reduce the
administrative burden for Australian business."
More information on
the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting
Streamlining Protocol is available at www.climatechange.gov.au
