The ‘right to repair’ has been a topical issue in international media and to some extent locally. But why does repair matter? Is it just because we like to tinker with our things?
Fresh scrutiny of recovery rates under the auspices of the voluntary battery recycling scheme, B-cycle, reignites long held concerns over the scheme’s viability, efficacy and transparency. The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported claims from former employees at B-cycle’s main recycler, Ecocycle, that batteries were routinely taken to landfill or processed in sub-optimal conditions by Ecocycle’s…
Australia is stepping up on the transition to a circular economy, with waste batteries highlighted as a priority at the joint Environment Ministers’ Meeting on 27 March 2026. Ministers agreed to develop an Inter-Governmental Agreement by mid-2026 for Environment Ministers’ intervention on circular economy issues, including a set of principles to prioritise issues and actions…
Product Stewardship is often touted as a means of ensuring adherence to the polluter pays principle, whereby those that are responsible for the production of hazardous waste and pollution, pay their fair share towards mitigating the environmental and human health impacts they create. This creates an incentive for those producers to actively work towards minimizing…
The transition to a circular economy is underway across industries, sectors and communities, however the pace of policy reform, design outcomes and practical action in Australia varies considerably. A key question is whether the initiatives – existing or proposed – can deliver against the fundamental principles of what constitutes a circular economy, or are they…
Enough Is Enough! Every year, Australians discard tonnes of electronics—smartphones, laptops, TVs, kitchen appliances—often because a single part breaks and can’t be repaired. Why? Because manufacturers make repairs difficult, expensive, and in some cases outright impossible. This is why Australia urgently needs a legally enforceable Right to Repair: the right for consumers and independent technicians…
After a brief hiatus, Ewaste Watch is back! Shining a spotlight on the darkest corners of industry and government inaction, and standing up against the mounting irreversible harm caused by Australia’s growing e-waste crisis. Now operating under the wing of the Total Environment Centre (TEC)—an independent, not-for-profit environmental advocacy group—Ewaste Watch will continue its mission…
This article by Annabelle Nilsson from the Australian Earth Laws Alliance puts forward a convincing argument that Australia’s Product Stewardship Act holds much potential to go beyond recycling and consider other product sustainability interventions. Read more .. Product Re-design Outperforms Recycling – Reforming Australia’s Product Stewardship Legislation to Facilitate a Circular Economy The innovation…