The ACT Government is set to become the first jurisdiction in Australia to ban televisions from landfill, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has announced.

From April 27, televisions will be banned from landfill and recycled for a fee, ranging from $15 to $40, at the Mitchell and Mugga Lane resource management centres.

The ban is expected divert 200 tonnes of televisions from landfill each year.

Mr Stanhope said the user-pays scheme would be in effect until the introduction of the national e-waste scheme, which will provide free e-waste recycling services.

“The ban is an interim measure to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill in the ACT ahead of the introduction of the national e-waste scheme next year,” he said.

The Government contracted electronic waste recycler TES-AMM Australia to recycle televisions and other e-waste. TES-AMM has also signed a sub-contract with local non-profit organisation, Charity Computers, to assess and repair reusable computer parts.