Published on Thursday, 5 September 2024 at 11:05:02 AM
As electronics and electrical items have become essential to the lives of most Western Australians, e‑waste has become one of the fastest‑growing waste streams in Australia.
On 1 July 2024, in support of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030, the Government of Western Australia’s e‑waste to landfill ban came into force across the state.
The Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (e‑waste) Regulations 2024 (the Regulations) prohibit the disposal of regulated e‑waste to landfill by e‑waste service providers, significant entities (business or public), and landfill operators. Definitions of these terms are provided below.
Households are not obligated under the ban; however, they are encouraged to take regulated e‑waste to drop‑off points (which can be found via Recycle Right) and not to dispose of e‑waste in kerbside bins.
This fact sheet is to be read in conjunction with the Regulations which set out the full responsibilities for significant entities and e‑waste service providers. Fact sheets with further information for significant entities and e‑waste service providers are available on the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation website.
A significant entity means a business entity or a public entity, that in relation to any financial year –
- has 2001 or more full‑time equivalent employees at the beginning of the financial year; or
- created, during the immediately preceding financial year, five or more tonnes of regulated e‑waste.
An e‑waste service provider means a person who conducts a business or undertaking that includes the collection or receipt of regulated e‑waste for storage, management, aggregation, treatment, processing, sorting, recycling, transfer or disposal.
What is regulated e‑waste?
Regulated e‑waste means the e‑waste categories described in Schedule 1 of the Regulations. Categories and items include but are not limited to:
- screens, information technology and telecommunications equipment
- lighting and lamps (e.g. tube fluorescent lamps, LED products, household ceiling or desk light globes)
- large appliances used in home, office or professional environment (e.g. dishwasher, washing machines and dryers, ovens, rangehoods, large dispensers such as ticket vending machines)
- batteries – all batteries except embedded batteries
- temperature exchange equipment (e.g. air conditioners and white goods such as freezers)
- medical devices (large) that would not, because of their shape or size, fit into a container measuring 50 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm.
Please see Schedule 1 of the Regulations for the full list.
The initial phase of the ban does not include solar panels/photovoltaics, small household appliances like toasters, children’s toys, electric toothbrushes or e‑cigarettes (also known as vapes).
Recording and retention of data for e‑waste service providers under the Regulations
Recordkeeping and annual reporting requirements under r.11 apply to e‑waste service providers required to hold a licence as defined in s.3(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) if the premises are used for the purposes of storing, treating or processing regulated e‑waste.
Compliance and enforcement of the ban
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) will take an education‑focused approach as part of the introduction of these changes. The department expects businesses and public entities to demonstrate reasonable efforts to comply with the ban.
The department will take action in accordance with its Compliance and enforcement policy and the EP Act where there is evidence of activity that may cause harm to the environment or human health.
Further information
A series of fact sheets has been developed to provide further information for significant entities and e‑waste service providers. Topics covered include the responsibilities of service providers and significant entities, reporting requirements and how to estimate the weight of e‑waste.
Where can I get more support?
If you need further information about data reporting requirements under the Regulations, please contact the Waste Data team: waste.data@dwer.wa.gov.au
If you have questions about other aspects of the Regulations, email: ewaste@dwer.wa.gov.au
Website: E‑waste to landfill ban in W
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