Headline: Green Party proposes permanent solution for TV waste
My Bill will make sure that no TVs end up as waste in landfill and instead are turned into useful things.
Green Party MP Denise Roche has launched a Member’s Bill which will create a permanent solution for TV waste.
“Right now we have a piecemeal approach to TV recycling, with one-off e-waste days and the Government’s temporary TV Takeback. Some TVs are still ending up in landfill. My Bill will create a year-round, robust TV recycling scheme, which will ensure that no TVs end up as waste in landfill. And it won’t cost the taxpayer,” said Ms Roche.
Under the Waste Minimisation (Television Product Stewardship) Amendment Bill, producers of TVs will pay a fee for every TV they import or manufacture which will cover the recycling costs.
“During New Zealand’s switch to digital, the Government-subsidised TV Takeback is reducing the number of televisions being sent to landfill, but it is not an on-going solution for television disposal,” said Ms Roche.
“Right now TV importers and manufactures are passing the burden of recycling their products onto taxpayers and recycling companies, but my Bill closes the loop and puts the responsibility of the end of life of televisions back on them.
“If producers of televisions have to pay for the recycling of their products it gives them an incentive to import or manufacture televisions that are easier and cheaper to recycle.
“The funds generated by this legislation will go to creating a robust recycling scheme for TVs and means that, after a couple of years, we won’t need to send any TVs to landfill and it will become prohibited.
“My Bill will make sure that no TVs end up as waste in landfill and instead are turned into useful things. The more we recycle, the less we have to mine for the materials used to build things,” said Ms Roche.
—
