With the phasing out of analogue television expected to result in millions of old television sets being disposed of by households across Australia, the Shore Regional Organisation of Councils (SHOROC) is proposing a ban on the collection and disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) to landfill from 1 January 2010.
Comprising Mosman, Manly, Pittwater and Warringah Councils, SHOROC represents councils on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The initiative is a result of a meeting in Hobart in May, where State and Federal Environment Ministers agreed a national e-waste recycling scheme would start after November.
At its Council meeting in May, Pittwater voted to support the ban.
Pittwater Mayor David James said the SHOROC councils were responding to growing environmental concerns related to the disposal of e-waste.
“E-waste includes electrical equipment such as computers and related peripherals, televisions, videos and CD players,” he said.
“There is evidence that hazardous substances from discarded equipment, such as lead, cadmium and mercury, are leaching into landfill sites and costing up to $2,000 per tonne to dispose of safely.
“Pittwater is looking to reduce waste in landfill by 30 per cent by the year 2020.
“We must look carefully at how we manage e-waste in the next decade at a regional level.”
He said the SHOROC group of councils would investigate alternative solutions to landfill for residents to dispose of e-waste before any ban was introduced.
“It’s our belief that manufacturers and distributors must shoulder responsibility for disposing of obsolete equipment safely,” Mayor James said.
The SHOROC councils intend to put forward a Notice of Motion relating to the ban of e-waste to the 2009 National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra from 21 to 24 June.
The motion will be available from the National General Assembly of Local Government in early June. Visit www.nga.alga.asn.au/event/2009
