Introduction A list of products proposed for consideration under the Product Stewardship Act 2011 during the next financial year is published each year to provide certainty to the community and business about what is being considered for coverage under the Product Stewardship Act. The publication of the list also fulfils the requirement that any future mandatory or approach be preceded by twelve months’ notice before a particular product can have such a regulatory approach applied. Waste A&D paint was included on the 2013-2014 Product List. Process to establish a voluntary paint stewardship scheme The Waste Paint Implementation Working Group (WPIWG) was formed in 2013 to oversee the scheme’s implementation. Sustainability Victoria in partnership with the paint industry is taking the lead on the development of a national waste paint stewardship scheme. The paint industry is represented by the Australian Paint Manufacturers’ Federation as well as manufacturers, retailers and trade painter associations. The case for a voluntary stewardship scheme was prepared by Global Product Stewardship Council (2013) on behalf of Sustainability Victoria and the Australian Paint Manufacturers’ Federation. Definition of waste paint The stewardship scheme is intended to include architectural and decorative (A&D) paint as well as woodcare products (stains and decking oils). The waste paint proposed to be captured by the voluntary stewardship scheme is:
and 2012/13 is presented in Table 42. The 2012/13 quantity of 270 tonne exceeded the 2011/12 quantity of 166 tonne due to the increase in the number of mobile collections. HHC collected from permanent or TCDs are to the Toxfree facility in Kwinana. Queensland In Queensland HHC collection programs are delivered by local government. Many local governments accept paint cans at transfer stations. Some Councils also hold free drop off days at transfer stations for residents and local trade painters. Several of the larger Councils offer HHC collection services at permanent and temporary collection sites. These services are generally available to householders and resident trade painter. For these HHC collection services, specialist liquid waste treatment contractors collect the waste paint for treatment and recycling or disposal of the immobilised paint. These contractors are required to comply with all relevant disposal requirements as paint is a regulated waste. For the larger Councils that offer HHC collection services conditions usually apply to the permanent collection sites and the temporary collection days. These conditions may include items must be in their original container, items must not be mixed, and a limit of one litre for each chemical or product. Each Council may choose whether to impose a disposal fee, and how much that fee will be. Disposal at transfer stations and landfills is often free to residents, with a charge usually applied to commercial waste. A survey of the 12 largest councils, by population was undertaken as part of the study. The population of these Council’s is about 81% of the State’s population. Of these 12 Councils, Rockhampton, Mackay, and Townsville do not have a HHC collection program.
The mean period of storage before disposal was 29 months (2.43 years). The duration in time within the stockpile prior to disposal is shown graphically in Figure 51. Figure 51: Trade waste survey - Duration of paint in stockpile before disposal Participants were asked “If you need to dispose of some of your stored paint, how often would you use the nominated disposal methods”. The responses are presented in Table 57. 57: Disposal pathways from the stockpile Disposal pathway Responses Portion of disposal via this pathway Always Frequently Sometimes Rarely Never Via stockpile Solidify paint and dispose with rubbish 10% 24% 32% 18% 16% 20.4% Donate to friends & community groups 10% 21% 44% 17% 8% 22.6% Take to liquid waste treatment companies 5% 7% 14% 20% 55% 8.1% Council depots that accept paint 12% 13% 28% 22% 24% 16.4% Sub-total 67.5%
Other municipal waste Hard Hard collection services occur in many municipalities across Australia with the collection being more common in metropolitan areas. These collections are usually conducted annually but are sometimes twice annual or on an annual ‘at call’ basis. Some Councils recycle steel cans obtained from the hardwaste. Council information provided to households indicates that only paint cans or cans with dry paint residue would be collected. This is generally accepted by householders with only a minimal amount of liquid paint presented. The primary source of the hard waste quantities has been the NSW EPA (2013b) 2011/12 data set. This data was then applied to all other states except for the Northern Territory and Western Australia on a household pro rata basis. The hardwaste in the Northern Territory was assumed to be zero as data was not provided. The Western Australian data was sourced from WA DEC (2013b). Self haul Australian householders have the opportunity to haul waste to transfer stations or directly to landfills in most parts of the country. This is commonly undertaken in trailers, small trucks and utes. At many sites, the loads can be disposed of without direct supervision. At some sites signage at entry gates advises that paint cannot be disposed of. This is controlled to varying degrees.
Swinburne University of Technology (2013) “End‐of‐Life Options for Waste Paint In Australia”, prepared for Sustainability Victoria. ToxFree Solutions Ltd, Sustainability Victoria, Australian Paint Manufacturers Federation, Master Painters Australia (2013) “PaintCare Trade Trial” November 2013. WA Department of Environment and Conservation (2013b), “Local Government Waste and Recycling Census 2010-11”, Perth, Western Australia WA Local Government Association (2013), “Household Hazardous Waste Program Annual Report 2012–2013”. WA Authority (2012), “Household Hazardous Waste Program Annual Report 2011–2012”.