States again forced to go it alone on critical product stewardship schemes
States again forced to go it alone on critical product stewardship schemes | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news States again forced to go it alone on critical product stewardship schemes 2025-03-19 The Greens have condemned the Albanese government’s failure to act on its promises to legislate legally binding national schemes for waste reduction and recycling management, which has left the NSW Government to go it alone and introduce its own scheme for environmentally damaging products such as batteries.
Quotes attributable to Greens spokesperson for waste and recycling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: “Good on the NSW Government for its nation-leading reform to introduce binding laws that regulate the full lifecycle of dangerous and environmentally damaging waste and recycling products – but states should never have been forced to go it alone. “The waste and recycling industry has been in crisis for years due to battery fires.
The federal Environment Minister has repeatedly threatened to regulate waste streams, but after years of talking nothing has changed. “As usual, the Federal environment department is happy to outsource its waste reduction and recycling leadership and responsibilities to the states. “As chair of the current Senate inquiry into the efficacy of Australia’s waste and recycling policies, the evidence has been loud, clear and unanimous: the last thing we need is a bunch of different state-based product stewardship schemes for waste streams such as batteries.
We desperately need Commonwealth leadership and a ubiquitous national scheme. “Commonwealth inaction on implementing legally binding product stewardship schemes that put responsibility back onto manufacturers of products has already resulted in the states going it alone to legislate popular container deposit schemes and bans on certain single-use plastics. This has meant each state now has its own different rules and regulations, which is a headache for industry.
“The Greens believe the federal Environment Minister could do worse than copying much of the NSW legislation and making this scheme mandatory around the country”. Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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