March 2025
CEO Update
Welcome to the latest edition of Connections and our first one for the new year.
At ANZRP we have hit the ground running in 2025 and are pleased to share so much news and updates on a wide range of fronts.
As we mentioned in our last newsletter the federal government signalled its intent to conduct public consultation as part of its statutory review of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 (the Act). The public consultation phase commenced in late January and ANZRP, in collaboration with our members, produced a submission which we believe makes sound recommendations and advocates strongly for improvements to the Act and which flow through to enhancing the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme. We wish to thank all of you who contributed your time and ideas to this submission.
Another highlight so far this year includes the work we have done with TechCollect NZ to support island nations in the Pacific region tackle the challenge of e-waste management, including conducting a successful proof-of-concept project in Niue. This is groundbreaking work for the region and one which has had immediate impact. You will find more details in this newsletter and on our website.
In late February we brought our team together to take part in this year’s Business Clean Up Day, a Clean Up Australia supported initiative. The team enthusiastically rolled up its sleeves and set about picking up litter at Batman Park, a riverside park near to our Melbourne office.
Late 2024 there were some changes to our Board. Claudia Bels was appointed as the new Chair of the Board (after serving as Deputy Chair for six years), alongside the appointment of Fatida Un as a Member Director. Most recently, in January, Janet Leslie joined the Board, as an Independent Director and Deputy Chair, further strengthening the company’s Board. For further information about our Board changes, please read here.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the Board for entrusting me with the role of Chief Executive Officer at ANZRP. I look forward to bringing my experience and vision to the table and working with the Board and team at ANZRP to keep driving our organisation forward and supporting the aspirations of our members.
Yours sincerely,
Carla Vasconi
CEO, ANZRP
ANZRP Quarter 2 2024-2025 Financial Year Update
During Quarter 2 2024-2025 ANZRP:
- provided households and small business with access to 276 collection services across the country
- achieved the Reasonable Access target five months early by providing services to all 235 required towns and cities
- is on track to meeting its 2024-2025 recycling target
- recycled 9,788 tonnes of e-waste during July to December 2024 equating to just over 50% of our target.
ANZRP’s Material Recovery Rate continues to improve from 84%, with an anticipated rate of 89% expected for 2024-2025 driven by recycling more plastic thereby diverting it from landfill.
Stay Connected with ANZRP on Social Media
A big thank you to our members who engage with us on social media—your support keeps our community thriving! At ANZRP, we value collaboration and actively follow many of our members to foster meaningful connections.
Looking to enhance your social media presence? Our Marketing and Communications team can help! Using the right hashtags and tagging fellow members can boost visibility and strengthen engagement.
Change to ANZRP social media platforms
As part of our efforts to streamline communication, we’ve discontinued ANZRP’s Facebook page. Stay updated by following:
We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to sharing more exciting updates with you!
#Sustainability #Collaboration #ANZRP
Latest ANZRP Life Cycle Assessment Report Released
Each year, as a part of its annual reporting, ANZRP undertakes a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of its TechCollect program across the whole value chain. These results are made public. ANZRP also undertakes LCAs for some of its members' managed e-waste programs (or take back programs).
LCAs and reporting play a valuable role in aiding ANZRP and our members to identify areas of opportunity, drive ongoing improvements and communicate about sustainability activity transparently and in a meaningful manner.
A full copy of the report can be found at Advocacy & Education | ANZRP.
March Member Forum - Batteries in Focus
On the 5th of March ANZRP held its first Member Forum for 2025, Batteries in Focus: Advancing Safety, Recycling and Responsible Stewardship.
We listened to three experts from different perspectives provide an overview of the following:
- The battery recycling landscape in Australia (Anthony Karam, Sircel)
- The proposed design for B-cycle 2.0 (Libby Chaplin, The Battery Stewardship Council)
- The NSW Government’s commitment to mandatory product stewardship for batteries (Phoebe Ashe, NSW Environment Protection Authority).
There was also an engaging panel discussion at the end of the presentations facilitated by ANZRP’s Deputy Chair, Janet Leslie.
The ANZRP team would like to thank everyone who attended and engaged in the session. If you were unable to make it on the day, you can access the recorded Member Forum and presentation slides below:
The recording is also available in the Member Portal.
The next Member Forum will be held on Wednesday 23rd July at 12.30pm.
Member Portal Updates
In February we included some exciting new additions to the Member Portal. Members can now access ANZRP's FY24 Annual Report and LCA, FY24 LCA Reports for members, Member Forum recordings from the past 12 months, and ANZRP Journey Map. Image captions have also been added to the Approved Imagery section to make it easier for our members to find appropriate images to use in communications materials.
If you require access to the Member Portal, please contact katie.webster@anzrp.com.au who can assist with a login.
European Union: Eco-design for Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling
The first meeting of the Group of Experts on Eco-design for Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling (the Eco-design Forum) was conducted in Brussels in February 2025. The Forum is key to implementing the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and, where appropriate, related energy labels. The ESPR aims to enhance the single market and product sustainability, reduce energy consumption and promote a circular economy in the European Union (EU), as well as boost industrial competitiveness. The initiative aims to introduce consistent rules across all member states, remove barriers and ensure a level playing field. Furthermore, eco-design and energy labelling rules will seek to encourage innovation and strengthen the EU's reputation as a leader in sustainability.
The Circular Advantage – Final Report Released
The Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory group has released a report looking at opportunities that can aid Australia’s transition to a circular economy. The report provides collective insights and contributions from stakeholders across Australia who share a commitment to creating a more sustainable, prosperous future through the circular economy. The report also outlines the key steps the Australian Government must take to accelerate this transition.
Copies of the final report can be downloaded below:
Review of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (2020)
The Federal Government, through the Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water, has commenced a statutory review of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (2020) (the Act). The review will examine:
- the operation of the Act, and
- the extent to which the objects of the Act have been achieved.
The Department has undertaken public consultation during the month of February and feedback will help shape the outcomes of the Review of the Act, including potential policy options.
ANZRP, in close collaboration with the members, has prepared and submitted a response to the terms of reference released.
More information on the terms of reference and the process can be found below:
Officeworks 2025 Recycling Pop-Up Day Calendar
Officeworks has announced details of its recycling pop-up day calendar for 2025. The events will be staged in most states and territories and provide the public with the opportunity to dispose and recycle free of charge unwanted tech products and batteries. Information of the events can be found below.
Read more industry news topics including:
- Western Australian government provides boost for E-waste recycling
- Western Australia E-waste transportation support scheme for regional councils
- Lead-Educate-Assist-Promote (LEAP) Grants opened in South Australia
- Northern Territory Government opens Sustainable Business Solutions Grant Program
- Three-point plan to fight battery-related fires in Queensland
- Update on assurance of climate disclosures in Australia
- Australia’s Circular Economy: Unlocking the opportunities - Interim report released.
Supporting E-waste Recycling in the Pacific Island Region
ANZRP was delighted to support our New Zealand counterpart, TechCollect NZ, and assist the nation of Niue to tackle its mounting problem with e-waste. Niue is a small island nation located in the Pacific region which possesses limited resources and has no infrastructure to manage hazardous waste, including e-waste. Over several decades e-waste had accumulated at several locations across the island, posing both an environmental risk and a lost economic opportunity. Recognising the issue, Niue, working through the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), sought to implement a solution that could take it forward.
ANZRP was subsequently engaged to assist with the development of a pilot program - which is ultimately intended to be rolled out across all SPREP member countries. This pilot program aimed to provide the local community with tools, training, and knowledge to safely manage and recycle e-waste, while also addressing other waste streams such as plastics and lead-acid batteries.
In February, ANZRP staff visited Niue and provided hands-on training and guidance that is helping to build long-term capacity, ensuring Niue is now equipped to handle e-waste sustainably for the future. Due to the success of this project, SPREP has engaged TechCollect NZ to perform similar training to five more islands – Rarotonga, Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga and Samoa and ANZRP will again provide staff to support this project.
ANZRP Welcomes Mike Griffiths!
Mike recently joined ANZRP part-time as a CFO Advisor and will provide strategic input and recommendations for the Finance team.
Mike is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales with nearly 40 years of experience across industries including newspaper and magazine publishing, IT recruitment, market research, and mailing machines.
Business Clean Up Australia Day
Our team proudly participated in this year’s Business Clean Up Day, a fantastic initiative supported by Clean Up Australia. We rolled up our sleeves and headed straight to Batman Park riverside in Melbourne, determined to make an impact and clean up our local environment!
The range of items we found was eye-opening—cigarette butts, bottle caps, coffee cups, cans, clothes, cushions, and even a hand fan! It was clear the area needed some serious care and attention when we arrived.
Working together under the sun, we gathered a remarkable 30kg of recyclable waste and 30kg of general waste. Knowing that our efforts will contribute to a cleaner, greener planet was truly rewarding.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part and for their dedication and teamwork. We are already excited to dive into the next clean-up challenge!
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