The government has created a framework for mandatory product stewardship programs and will set up a scheme for batteries. Batteries are in everything, from toothbrushes to lamps, children’s toys and shoes, birthday cards, books – they are impossible to escape. But battery waste is a serious problem. When batteries are sent to landfill, they cause fires on trucks and at waste facilities. They leach toxic chemicals like lead, cadmium and mercury into the environment and waterways. Batteries should be sent for special recycling but there are few collection places which encourages some to just throw them away. The product stewardship program will make producers responsible for battery waste collection and recycling.

Australia is now producing 74 million tonnes of waste each year and Sydney’s landfill capacity will be full in five years. During debate on the bill, I called for a circular economy with a range of problematic products subject to mandatory producer responsibility, including plastics, which are producing overwhelming waste levels and are entering the food stream.

My speech > HERE