Is Voluntary Product Stewardship for E-Waste Working in New Zealand? A Whangarei Case Study

Vicktoria Blake, Trisia Farrelly and Jonathon Hannon
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Vicktoria Blake: Faculty of Primary Industries, Science and Environment, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga 3110, New Zealand
Trisia Farrelly: School of People, Environment, and Planning, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
Jonathon Hannon: School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-26

Abstract: New Zealand currently manages its annually-generated 99,000 tonnes of e-waste via voluntary product stewardship schemes. Limited data is available to determine the success of this approach. This lack of data is cited as the logic preventing the declaration of e-waste as a priority product by the Minister for the Environment which would trigger the enforcement of mandatory product stewardship. This case study involved an online survey of 264 Whangarei District householders asking questions about e-waste creation and management, as well as analyses of local services, and local and national policy. It found that only 1.8% of the estimated e-waste created in the district is recycled by municipal services, with the ‘cost to recycle’ and ‘a lack of knowledge’ presenting barriers to engagement in these services. The ‘lack of ability to repair/the cost to repair’ was found to be the most significant driver for e-waste creation. The adoption of mandatory product stewardship for e-waste was recommended to ensure robust and transparent data collection, see recycling services become more accessible, and raise awareness of these services, thus reducing the value-action gap. Mandatory e-waste management would also impact product design to ensure affordable repair-ability, further supporting a circular economy for electronic goods.

Keywords: product stewardship; extended producer responsibility; e-waste; WEEE (waste electronic and electrical equipment); e-waste management; Whangarei; New Zealand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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