According to a report by Glenn Milne of the Herald Sun, the Aussie Government is considering a ‘recycling tax’ on TVs and PCs, which would be used to help pay the costs of recycling old hardware.
The tax, which was recommended in a government-funded report by Price Waterhouse Coopers, is apparently as much to do with paying for the program as it is an attempt to force a change in the behaviour of both consumers and businesses. Because as it stands, us Australians are a bunch of environmental criminals when it comes to disposing of old TVs and PCs. Although from personal experience, that’s mostly due to a lack of options when it comes to getting rid of old machines – my local council doesn’t offer any electronics recycling…
The Herald Sun report reckons the tax would add about $30 to the price of a new TV. If that’s the case, I’m all for it. After all, what’s $30 when you’re already spending upward of $2K on a new telly? Especially if it means that your old TV won’t end up in landfill poisoning the planet.
As it stands, the report is in the “community consultations” stage for about six months. What happens after that is anyone’s guess.