As the Federal Government rolls out a massive $6.5 million dollar advertising campaign to promote the switchover to digital TV manufacturers are facing the possibility of a levy on all new TV sets imported into Australia that will fund the disposal of millions of old CRT TV’s.
The concept of a levy which would be collected by customs is still under debate however TV manufacturers are working together to develop a voluntary program in partnership with recycling Companies says Laurie Nolan the General Manager of Marketing at Sharp.
“There has been discussion regarding a Federal Government levy but as yet nothing has been decided”.
Also being discussed is the formation of a joint venture Company made up of manufacturers to collect waste similar to what is already implemented in the USA.
In addressing the thousands of tons of e-waste expected as the DTV transition kicks in manufacturers have had to to work with several different e-waste recycling policies among the key states in Australia and “this is causing problems as each state has a different view on how the TV’s should be recycled” said one manufacturer.
Manufacturers such as Panasonic, Samsung LG, Sharp, Toshiba and Sony have already set aside considerable resources and time to address the issue says Nolan.
At issue immediately is the creation of a safe and convenient way for consumers to dispose of their unwanted electronics devices, particularly now that the nation is nearing the completion of its transition from an analogue to all digital TV transmission system.
Like computers, televisions based on old cathode ray tube technology, and even some newer flat-screen sets, contain environmentally toxic elements including lead and mercury.
What the States are concerned about is that if these substances accumulate in landfills, they can leach into the ground water and possibly run off into nearby streams, ponds and oceans.
One option under consideration is that the old RV’s are shipped to China said Nolan.
In the USA where the switchover is now being implemented six states have passed laws making it illegal to simply throw a TV away in a landfill, and another five are expected to do so in 2010. Eighteen states, as well as New York City, have ordered electronic recycling programs.
Also in the USA several manufacturers have already implemented recycling programs.
According to TWICE Magazine, Sony was among the first to get the recycling ball rolling in September 2007, when it launched its “Take Back” network of collection sites around the country. Those locations now have grown to more than 274 permanent depots across the country.
Sony started the program as one of the “first nationwide electronics-recycling programs” of its kind, targeting the collection of both waste TVs and other electronics devices, in association with WM Recycle America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Waste Management.
Sony has expanded the program since the launch to include the collection services of Eco International, which among other sites, has added certain UPS stations in some US States.
The program allows consumers to bring their end-of-life Sony TVs and other Sony products to one of the drop-off sites free of charge. Varying fees are assessed for products of other brands brought to the drop-off locations.
At the CES show in Las Vegas last year Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba, launched a comprehensive electronics-recycling program in select states, concentrated mostly on the Eastern seaboard, before ramping up to some 280 collection sites covering a full national footprint in early 2009. It is scheduled to reach more than 400 sites by the end of 2009, with a total goal of reaching 800 collection sites across the country by 2011, said Frank Marella, Sharp environmental affairs manager.
The effort is being coordinated by MRM, a jointly operated venture between Sharp, Panasonic and Toshiba.
Like Sony’s efforts, the MRM sites are designed to collect TVs and other electronics products as well. In most cases, end-of-life products are taken free of charge if they carry a Panasonic, Sharp or Toshiba brand. Depending on the site, they may or may not charge for products from other brands, Marella said.
“If we are really going to make electronics recycling cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, we need economies of scale both on collection and on recycling,” said David Thompson, Panasonic corporate environmental affairs director. “We based our program on the idea of working collaboratively with other companies to implement it.”
Samsung established Samsung Recycling Direct (SRD) on Oct. 1, 2008, as one of four electronics recycling programs, which together cover most the company’s core product areas, said Kris Narayanan, Samsung’s integrated marketing director.
The SRD portion covers TVs and other CE products and uses four electronics-recycling firms directly contracted by Samsung-Sims, CRT, Eco International and JFRC.
Samsung promotes the service with special events designed to create some buzz in the local markets by offering temporary drop off points in or near big venues, such as NASCAR races, NBA games and NFL rallies.
Narayanan said that by working directly with the recycler, instead of a collection firm, Samsung has more oversight and control over the responsible breakdown, recycling and disposal of waste materials.
