Plastics in healthcare products, tyres, and mattresses have been added to the Minister’s Product Stewardship Priority List.

Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek has added these items to list for 2022–23, published during National Recycling Week.

The makers and importers of items on the product stewardship priority list must take responsibility for the impacts of their products on the environment across their entire life cycle.

It goes above and beyond recycling and considers how the development, design, manufacture, import, sale, use and recovery of materials and products can be adjusted to improve environmental outcomes.

The addition of these products on the Minister’s product stewardship priority list means that if participation does not increase, the government will consider regulation.

Plibersek said an industry-led stewardship approach is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to reduce a product’s impact on the environment and human health.

“The priority list makes our intentions clear – if industry does not act, the government will.”

Healthcare waste has become increasingly problematic due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, while there are already some initiatives addressing this waste stream, this listing will drive further innovation, and expansion of emerging solutions so the industry can come together to develop a national scheme.

Other products already listed include solar panels, electrical and electronic products, child car seats, oil containers, clothing textiles and problematic plastics.

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