Minnesota continues to be among the most active states in mandating product take-back and recycling. In 2007, Minnesota passed the Minnesota Electronics Recycling Act, which establishes a producer-responsibility recycling program in the state. Minnesota had previously enacted a disposal ban on cathode ray tubes, which took effect in 2006. Finally, Minnesota is a member of the Midwest Regional Electronic Waste Recycling Policy Initiative, which seeks to develop a unified regional approach for managing waste electronics.

For more information on EIATRACK, go to http://www.eiatrack.org/ or contact Andrew Kurtzman.

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Malta has implemented the EU Directive on energy-using products (EuPs) through the Product Safety Act LN 347 of 2007 – Framework for the Setting of Ecodesign Requirements for Energy-using Products Regulation (the Eco-Design Act). The law entered into force on August 11, 2007.

As the EuP Directive, the Eco-Design Act establishes a framework for setting eco-design requirements for such products. The Eco-Design Act has been further implemented through implementing measures, and further implementing measures are contemplated in due course. Energy-using products are not subject to eco-design or energy efficiency requirements until implementing measures have been issued. The Eco-Design Act itself does not create legal obligations for manufacturers. Under implementing measures, manufacturers will be required to perform an assessment of the environmental aspects of their products throughout their life cycles. They will have to use this assessment to evaluate alternative design solutions, with the aim of improving the environmental performance of their products. Implementing measures are prepared by the Regulatory Affairs Directorate of the Malta Standards Authority and adopted by the Parliament. If a product subject to an implementing measure does not comply with the standards imposed by such a measure, possible sanctions include fines, imprisonment and product withdrawal.

For more information on EIATRACK, go to http://www.eiatrack.org/ or contact Andrew Kurtzman.

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On July 1, 2008, Ontario will launch the first phase of a Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) Program, which will cover a comprehensive list of consumer products, including single-use dry cell batteries. Brand owners, first importers and franchisors (stewards) of covered batteries will be required to collect and remit fees to Stewardship Ontario, the Industry Funding Organization responsible for implementing the program. The MHSW Program Plan, developed by Stewardship Ontario and approved on February 19, 2008, by the Ontario Minister of the Environment, further defines the scope of responsible stewards and provides the basic fee-setting structure, reporting requirements and other program details.

For more information on EIATRACK, go to http://www.eiatrack.org/ or contact Andrew Kurtzman.

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Current mandatory legislation exists related to energy efficiency for selected electrical and electronic products in Australia, and further work is under way to regulate other electrical and electronic products.

Regulatory approaches include:

• Mandatory approved energy labels;
• Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS).

In both cases, the approaches use a combination of legislation and Australian standards.

For more information on EIATRACK, go to http://www.eiatrack.org/ or contact Andrew Kurtzman.

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