The problematic poser: who should pay for e-waste disposal

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Who should pay for e-waste disposal?

By Vanessa Ko | December 7, 2011, 2:22 AM PST

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HONG KONG — Hong Kong will soon have a facility designated for dismantling and recycling electronic products such as televisions, refrigerators and computers.

A tax will be added to the price tags of electronic products to help pay for e-waste disposal. Based on a similar tax in other cities, the cost of home appliances is expected to go up by $12 to $30.

The question now is whether consumers should pay for all of the recycling costs. Some argue that retailers and manufacturers should pay for part of it to hold accountable all involved parties.

The current proposal places the recycling fee at the retail level, and it is likely that retailers will simply charge the extra cost to consumers. This type of legislation “is not really the spirit of producer responsibility” as intended by the legislation, said Edwin Lau, general affairs director of Friends of the Earth in Hong Kong.

Lau said in over 30 jurisdictions around the world, the e-waste fee is charged to the importer, as electronic products are frequently manufactured overseas.

“Of course producers have the responsibility to contribute a small part of their earning to the annual operation cost of the e-waste recycling plant that will have our e-waste properly dismantled and recycled and reused,” Lau said.

In California, there is a $10 fee added to the price of electronic products with viewable screens, but retailers may choose to pay the fee on behalf of the consumer to make its prices more competitive. Several other U.S. states charge e-waste recycling fees to manufacturers.

Right now, about 80% of Hong Kong’s e-waste is exported to other cities and countries. Many of these areas are poor and use polluting processes that are harmful to the workers’ health. “It’s not environmentally responsible,” Lau said, “and it’s not ethical.”

Photo: Vanessa Ko

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About Vanessa Ko

Vanessa Ko is a Hong Kong correspondent for SmartPlanet.

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A new day is coming with Australia's taxing axing carbon pollution

The Greens Leader - Senator Bob Brown (centre)

with Greens Deputy Leader - Senator Christine Milne

and

House of Representatives Member for Melbourne -

Adam Bandt

Australia's current version of the carbon tax passed the Senate and into law to-day.  There was great cheering in the Senate with The Greens indulging in celebratory hugs and kisses.  Don't blame them.  A lot of work has gone into coming this far.  A few words of caution though - how far will this take us?  That is the unknown ..but the work of the climate change sceptics and deniers and their supporters is not an unknown quantity and the current Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, has promised that - if and - when he becomes Prime Minister he will repeal the legislation.  So this is not the end of a story...it is one more chapter in a saga whose end is yet to be finally proven, settled, and law becomes a lifestyle.

How the clean-energy package will roll out:

1.              Carbon emissions tax for the 500 biggest polluters starts on July 1, 2012

2.              Tax moves to an emissions trading scheme in 2015

3.              Advertisement: Story continues below

4.              Tax begins at a fixed price of $23 a tonne and rise by 2.5 per cent a year until 2015.

5.              Tax will not apply to agricultural emissions or light on-road vehicles

6.              Electricity generation, stationary energy, some business transport, waste, industrial processes and fugitive emissions will be covered by the initial tax

7.              Average households will see a $9.90 weekly cost rise

8.              Average households will receive assistance of $10.10 weekly

9.              Free carbon permits will be the given to the most emissions-intensive and trade-exposed industries

10.            The government wants to cut pollution by 80 per cent by 2050.

(Source: Australian government)

Picture from here

Prime Minister Julia Gillard hugs Greg Combet, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.

Labor had its moment in the sun and of self-congratulation on October 12 last when the legislation passed the House of Representatives with the support of the one Green member in the lower house and two independents, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.  

Now we wait...

• for the implementation of the legislation
• for the surprise of the electorate when the legislation works without hardship or a jobs crisis
• to see the making and breaking of political leadership: Gillard or Abbott
• to see more artful dodging and vile slander from the sceptics
• to cheer for Australia as she makes a major contribution to caring for our planet, other species, and ourselves.

Further reading:

Clean Energy Future 

And it passed! Australia sets a price on pollution

Beginning of a new era as Clean Energy Future bills pass into law

Carbon tax gets green light in Senate

Price on pollution becomes law.  The clean-up of our polluting economy begins.

We officially have a price on pollution

Landmark climate law decades in the making

The little carbon tax that could

Climate change: ABC news special coverage

Speech:  Minister Wong Clean Energy Bill 2011