Managing Electronic Waste at Local Government Level in Queensland, Australia: Opportunities and Constraints

摘要

The term e-waste is unilaterally used to describe both electronic and electrical wastes, that is, any items which rely on an electric current or electromagnetic fields in order to operate and contains a hard-drive or significant electronic components/printed circuit board (electronic) to equipment or machines which simply requires electric current to operate (electrical). According to UNEP, waste from electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) is becoming a significant component of the waste stream, increasing at a rate of between three to five percent per annum, outstripping the general growth of the municipal waste stream. This means that electronic and electrical wastes are a significant proportion of the Local Government's waste management role and budget. Increasingly, smaller and cheaper electronic items are being all too easily disposed of in municipal waste systems, coupled with an increase in the number of, and turnover of manufacturers and suppliers to the market, may see Local Governments assuming a key role in the future of e-waste management. A survey of local Councils within Queensland was undertaken in order to accurately determine the current level of understanding and action on e-waste, and to solicit key responses regarding the identification of areas where improvements could be made. For example, the rationalisation of preferred initiatives for future legislative and funding mechanisms. The survey achieved a response rate of 21%, which accounted for 61% of Queensland's population due to the spatial distribution of inhabitants to the major cities and coastal communities. Survey results identified key barriers experienced by Councils regarding the collection and treatment of e-wastes, and highlighted regional differences between urban and rural/outback Councils. The survey was endorsed by the Local Government Associations of Queensland and Central Queensland who aided the promotion of the survey, which was hosted on the Griffith University E-Waste web page.