The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission proposes to allow the Australian Paint Manufacturers Federation to conduct a 12 month waste paint collection trial in Victoria. It will be funded by a 2 cents per litre levy on the wholesale supply of Architectural & Decorative (A&D) paint in Australia.
The APMF is an industry association representing the majority suppliers of A&D paint in Australia.
Data collected through the trial is likely to facilitate the development of a national waste paint collection scheme. The APMF has indicated that, following the conclusion of the trial, it plans to introduce this national scheme on a progressive basis.
Collection of domestic waste paint in Victoria is currently conducted through the Victorian government's Detox Your Home program. Under the waste paint collection scheme, the APMF will take financial responsibility for the waste paint portion of this program and will establish a new service to collect waste paint from trade painters, free of charge.
"This trial has the potential to reduce the environmental harm caused by the improper disposal of paint, as well as making the collection of waste paint in Victoria more efficient," ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said.
The ACCC proposes to grant authorisation for the 12 month duration of the trial, until 1 June 2012.
The ACCC may authorise this type of arrangement when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment. Authorisation provides immunity from court action for any conduct that may otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
The ACCC will now seek further submissions from the applicant and interested parties in relation to this draft determination, prior to making a final decision.
The ACCC's draft determination will be available from the ACCC website, www.accc.gov.au/AuthorisationsRegister