Makers and importers of mattresses and tyres will have to ensure the items can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way under federal government changes.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has added the products, as well as plastics in healthcare products, to an official “product stewardship priority list”.
This will force the makers and importers to take responsibility for the impact of their products on the environment across the entire life cycle of the items.
“The priority list makes our intentions clear—if the industry does not act, the government will,” Plibersek said on Tuesday.
While industry-led initiatives for tyre and mattress recycling exist, not enough businesses participate, the government said….