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MRI is a government approved co-regulatory arrangement under the National Televisions and Computer Recycling Scheme( NTCRS).

We partner with Councils to provide free television and computer recycling to householders and small businesses across Australia through our Dropzone public collection network.

Being an electronic recycler we also recycle all other e-waste, batteries and fluorescent tubes making recycling easy for all.

MRI is committed to:

• providing certainty and value to our collection partners

• driving innovation in collecting, transporting and recycling

• minimising costs and maximising environmental benefits

• best practice e-waste and battery recycling

• over 95 % material recovery

Join us in keeping e-waste out of landfill

Please contact us to discuss how we can work with you

1300 4 EWASTE( 1300 4 39278) mripso @ mri. com. au

www. mri. com. au www. dropzone. org. au

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THE Australian Packaging Covenant( APC) has had an interesting year to say the least. In August last year, former chief executive Stan Moore announced his resignation, just a little over a month after review documents were leaked to mainstream media showing that the APC was falling short of its recycling target and an announcement that the WA Local Government Association had withdrawn from the Covenant, saying the arrangement was“ ineffective”.

But things seem to be turning around. The APC announced in May that it will relaunch an“ enhanced” Covenant in January next year and federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said there was ongoing support for the Covenant.

The APC also has a new CEO, Trish Hyde, who took the reins at the end of March.

Inside Waste caught up with Hyde to find out what she’ s been up to and what the sector can expect from the APC.

IW: Why the move into the waste and recycling sector? Hyde: Cheekily, I want to reject the premise of the question. I see the APC being in the sustainable packaging space, where the societal benefits of packaging are optimised and its negative environmental impact minimised. It may seem like semantics, but the distinction is important – industry can do more focusing on design and whole life, not just the end of a package’ s life.

IW: What drew you to the APC? Hyde: Belief in the underlying concept that collaboration focused on a strategic outcome can make a real difference. Also, belief in the value of harnessing industry efforts to deliver tangible environmental outcomes and that I have value to offer the organisation as the Covenant enters its next important phase.

IW: What have you enjoyed the most about the job so far? Hyde: Having been out meeting industry, government and community representatives, I am constantly reminded of the value of the work of the Covenant. It’ s a positive and optimistic environment.

IW: Can you tell us about the work you’ ve done since being appointed CEO of the APC? Hyde: I’ m fortunate to be working with an insightful board and very talented team. It’ s been a time of internal rebuilding, working with the board on strengthening governance and working with the team to refresh and refocus on our members. Our stakeholders are many, so I have been spending time meeting with members, community stakeholders and governments to help shape our work to deliver greater value.

IW: Major challenges to date? Hyde: There have been two major deliverables in the first few months. The first was to deliver a new governance framework for the organisation, including the transition to a company limited by guarantee. The transition and new constitution were ratified by a Special General Meeting of signatories on June 28, 2016.

The second has been addressing the relevance of the Covenant for signatory members, governments and the broader community. Work is well underway with member workshops planned to investigate the areas of greatest need and develop plans of action.

The challenge is to keep the momentum and, with governments, deliver the enhanced Covenant in early 2017.

IW: The APC is also working on a five-year strategic plan. What can we expect to see in this plan? Hyde: Work on the enhanced Covenant is progressing and we are in discussions with the jurisdictions. From the enhanced Covenant will flow the strategic plan.

I believe the following principles and concepts are likely to be incorporated:

• In the work we do: a narrower and deeper focus on targeted sustainable packaging issues. By focusing on industry’ s packaging“ pain points” that have an environmental impact, the Covenant will be better able to achieve its purpose of assisting industry to deliver environmental outcomes.

• With the knowledge gained: by adopting an evidence-based approach, the Covenant can foster knowledge sharing that leads to invaluable capability building.

• For those involved: we see great