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6 October 2014
Update 6 – Retailer Consultation
Scheme in Development
It is estimated that over 24,000 tonnes of architectural and decorative (A&D) paint and
associated packaging, or roughly 6.1% of annual sales, currently becomes waste annually in
Australia (Nolan, 2014).
Waste paint is listed as a Priority Product for development of stewardship arrangements
under the Product Stewardship Act 2011. The Waste Paint Implementation Working Group
(‘Working Group’) with senior representation from the paint industry and government, is
responsible for the development of an industry-led, national scheme to safely and efficiently
recover unwanted paint before it enters the waste stream or the environment.
Based on extensive research, the Working Group has drafted a Scheme Business Plan,
Economic Model and 5 year Financial Plan to be submitted to the Australian Competition
and Consumer Commission (ACCC) requesting a recovery levy to be placed on A&D paint
sold nationally. Financial modelling suggests that to provide safe, accessible drop-off
facilities for both trade painters and householders across Australia the levy will be
approximately 1% of the paint shelf price. It is likely that the ACCC application will be
submitted in October 2014 in time for the ‘PaintCare’ Scheme to commence mid-2015.
Consultation Sessions Begin
To underpin the development of the scheme a considerable amount of consultation is
required to ensure the Scheme is efficient, safe and fit for purpose. Industry-led
consultation sessions, focussing on the Scheme’s proposed business plan have begun with
the first session held at Melbourne Airport for paint retailers and speciality paint
distributers. The session was well attended and opened with presentations from Mr Bruce
Edwards, Assistant Secretary Waste Policy, Commonwealth Government; Ms Diana Gibson,
Independent Chair of the Working Group and Mr Richard Phillips, Executive Director,
Australian Paint Manufacturers Federation. An open Q&A session followed with questions
from retailers surrounding how the levy will be collected and distributed and what were the
requirements from an invoicing perspective. Concerns were raised around the ‘free rider’
issue from paint importers not in the Scheme and the possibility of retailers becoming part
of the collection network. The Working Group is working closely with the retailers to address the issues raised at the session to ensure all questions are answered and the high level of support for the Scheme is
maintained.
Further consultation sessions will be held in early 2015 in capital cities and major regional
centres. Stakeholders will be informed of the Schedule in the next few months and invited
to attend.
Background Work
All updates, research and underpinning documentation are available for review online at
www.sustainability.vic.gov.au./paintstewardship
Opportunity to comment
The Working Group encourages all stakeholders to comment or request further information
on the progress of the scheme.
For more information please contact the Secretariat, Paint Stewardship, Implementation
Working Group at PaintStewardship@sustainability.vic.gov.au or submit formal comment to
Richard Phillips, Executive Director, Australian Paint Manufacturers’Federation at
richard.phillips@apmf.asn.au