What’s on
Government reviews, consultations and progress
- The federal government is progressing to regulate stewardship over solar photovoltaic systems. The federal government previously committed to develop a mandatory product stewardship scheme to reduce waste from small electrical products and PV systems, however, small electrical and electronic items appear to have fallen by the wayside. (CTH)
- The Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications release a report waste and recycling policies in April 2025 titled No Time to Waste. The report has been tabled in parliament but is awaiting a formal response from government. (CTH)
- The Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs is currently undertaking an inquiry on the Impact of microplastics and other toxics on human health. Microplastics from ewaste represent a particular risk noting the greater use of potentially harmful chemicals in production of these products. (CTH)
- Battery stewardship organisation B-cycle’s sough authorisation from the ACCC to continue to engage in certain activities necessary for the continuation of the voluntary product stewardship scheme to recycle waste batteries. ACCC Authorisation granted on 3 November 2025 (CTH)
- Treasury’s consultation on the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme report released on 6 February 2026 confirmed Australia’s first right to repair scheme has expanded consumer choice, improved access to repair information and supported safe and timely vehicle repairs. The federal government will consult on suggested policy changes.
- NSW Product Lifecycle Responsibility Act has been enacted, but a commencement date has not yet been set. Regulations for mandatory Battery stewardship in NSW have been published to commence either from 1 October 2026 if the parent act has been promulgated by then), or if commencement of the parent act is delayed, upon commencement of that Act. (NSW)
- Draft new Queensland Waste Strategy 2025-2030 consultation closed in June 2025. The feedback will inform the final Queensland Waste Strategy soon to be released. A review of the waste disposal levy is planned for 2025–2026.
- South Australia’s consultation to Review of the Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy 2010 took place in 2024 – SA EPA completed it’s summary of submissions and review in December 2025 – the priorities identified have been incorporated into the South Australia waste strategy, Accelerating SA’s transition to a circular economy: South Australia’s waste strategy 2025-2030(External link), (Green Industries SA (GISA) December 2025.
Upcoming Events
- 12 April 2026 – Bassendean Youth Services Guildford Rd, Bassendean WA 6054, Australia (9:30am to 12:00pm)
- 1st & 2nd Sunday of the month – Repair Cafe Sydney North 164-180 Longueville Road, Lane Cove NSW (2 – 4pm)
- Coffs Waste Conference 12-14 May 2026
- Waste Expo Australia, 28-29 October 2026
- Asia Pacific Circular Economy Hotspot, 1-2 October 2026 – Register here
Info Hub
The following organisations and their links are grouped according to several broad themes and issues to help you find the most relevant information.
Environmental impacts of E-waste
- The Global E-waste Monitor 2017 Published by the United Nations University, the International telecommunications Union, and the International Solid Waste Association.
- The Global E-waste Monitor 2024. United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
- Australian Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications (2025). No Time to Waste: Waste Reduction and Recycling Policies. Senate Report
- Geneva Environment Network
Health consequences from ewaste exposure
- World Health Organisation
- WHO Initiative on E-waste and Child Health – Ewaste exposure and child health (2021)
Consumption and retail related
- The Story of Stuff (USA)
- EPEAT – the leading global ecolabel for the IT sector
- TCO – sustainability certification for IT procurement
Materials
- World Resources Forum
- Sustainable Materials Management
- Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (Electronics)
Policy, regulation, advocacy and standards
- Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group (CEMAG). (2024). The Circular Advantage: Final Report. CEMAG Report
- Productivity Commission. (2025). Australia’s Circular Economy: Unlocking the Opportunities – Interim Report. Productivity Commission Report
- DCEEW (2024) National Waste Policy Action Plan. Available online.
- DCEEW (2024) Australia’s Circular Economy Framework; Doubling our circularity rate. Available online.
- Global Product Stewardship Council
- Product Stewardship Institute (USA-based)
- Product Stewardship Society (USA-based)
- Global e-Sustainability Initiative
- The StEP Initiative – solving the e-waste problem (global relevance)
- Green Electronics Council & EPEAT
- Asset Disposal and Information Security Alliance
- Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group
- Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence
- Clean Up Australia
- The Federal Environment Minister’s Product Stewardship Priority List – this list is not being updated while the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 is under review.
Repair and reuse
- The Australian Library of Things Network
- Australian Repair Network
- The Zero Waste Network
- The Repair Association (USA – Right to Repair)
- iFixit
- iFixit Australia
- The Restart Project (UK based but going global)
- The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre (Sydney)
- Mend it Australia
Design and innovation
- Forum for the Future (UK)
- Death by Design
- Fairphone (NL)
Circular economy
Current voluntary and co-regulatory stewardship schemes at the federal level
- National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) co-regulatory arrangements.
- MobileMuster, the mobile phone and related devices voluntary stewardship scheme
- Bcycle, the voluntary stewardship scheme for batteries