Lexi Webster
Australia's recycling rate has increased by 57% over the last 15 years, with the country's resource recovery rate (recycling, waste reuse, and energy recovery) for 2020-21 at 63% and the recycling rate at 60%. However, waste generation is also increasing, with a 3% increase between 2018/19 and 2020/21. This highlights the ongoing challenge of reducing waste and promoting recycling in Australia. While some states, like South Australia, have high recovery rates of over 80%, others, like the Northern Territory, lag behind at 19%. With Australia's waste generation on the rise, there is a growing need to address these disparities and improve recycling practices nationwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total waste generated in Australia | 75.8 million tonnes (2018-19) |
| Percentage of waste sent for recycling | 47-63% |
| Amount of paper recycled | 2.3 million tonnes |
| Amount of paper dumped in landfills | 5.9 million tonnes |
| Amount of plastic waste from households | 1.2 million tonnes |
| Percentage of plastic waste from manufacturing | 15% |
| Hazardous waste tonnage | 7.4 million tonnes |
| Percentage of hazardous waste from manufacturing | 24% |
| Percentage of hazardous waste from construction | 21% |
| State with the highest recovery rate | South Australia (80%) |
| State with the lowest recovery rate | Northern Territory (19%) |
| Average plastic use per person | 60 kg per year |
| Projected plastic consumption in 2050 | Twice the current amount |
| Percentage of plastic waste diverted from landfills | 14% |
| Percentage of Australians assuming soft plastics are recyclable | 47% |
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What You'll Learn
Recycling rates by state
Australia's national resource recovery rate in 2022–2023 was 66%, with 63% recycling, 0.2% waste reuse, and 3% energy recovery. This is an improvement from 2006–2007 when the recovery rate was 49%. However, the total amount of waste generated is increasing with the growing population.
South Australia has the highest recovery rate of any state or territory in Australia at 80% to 82%. South Australia has been spearheading the country's recycle-and-earn initiative for over 30 years. The state government has also pledged for zero avoidable waste to end up in landfills by 2030. South Australians are also more likely to engage in recycling through Container Deposit Schemes (CDS), which offer a 10-cent refund for certain drink containers to reduce litter and increase recycling.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has a recovery rate of 69% to 73%. New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria (Vic) are ranked closely together, with recovery rates of 66% to 67%. Western Australia (WA) has a recovery rate of 64% to 69%, while Tasmania (Tas) is at 51% to 56%. Queensland (Qld) has a recovery rate of 47%, and the Northern Territory (NT) has the lowest rate at 19% to 34%.
While recycling rates are improving across Australia, the country still faces challenges in reducing waste and addressing the waste crisis. State-level initiatives and individual efforts are crucial in promoting recycling and reducing single-use plastic consumption.
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Recycling rates by material
Australia generated 75.8 million tonnes of solid waste in the 2018-19 financial year, a 10% increase over the previous two years. Over half of this waste was sent for recycling (38.5 million tonnes), while 27% was sent to landfill (20.5 million tonnes). The recovery rate refers to the proportion of waste that is recycled, used for energy recovery, or exported.
In 2020/21, Australia generated a similar amount of waste, an estimated 75.8 million tonnes, or 2.95 tonnes per person. The largest waste categories were building and demolition materials (25.1 million tonnes), organics (14.4 million tonnes), ash (12.0 million tonnes), and hazardous waste (7.4 million tonnes).
Recycling and recovery rates vary by material. The highest recovery rates in 2020/21 were for metals (87%), building materials (81%), paper and cardboard (62%), organics (58%), and glass (59%). Aluminium had the best recovery rate of 90%, while plastics had the lowest recovery rate of 19%, with 84% of plastic waste sent straight to landfill. The recovery rate for plastics has remained relatively unchanged since 2016/17, at around 12-13%.
In terms of regional differences, South Australia had the highest resource recovery rate in 2020/21 at 80%, followed by the ACT at 69%. Nationally, Australia's resource recovery rate has been increasing, rising from 49% in 2006/07 to 63% in 2020/21 and 66% in 2022/23.
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Recycling and waste reuse
Australia has been facing a waste crisis, with a staggering 75.6 million tonnes of waste generated in the 2022-23 reporting period, or approximately 2.88 tonnes per person. This figure has increased by 5.6 million tonnes, or 8%, in the last six years, indicating a pressing need to address the country's waste generation.
The National Waste Report, released biennially, provides critical insights into Australia's waste management and recycling performance. The latest report for 2020-21 revealed a stagnant recycling rate of 60%, with no improvement since the previous report. However, it's worth noting that Australia's recycling rate has increased by 57% over the last 15 years, showcasing some progress.
Despite the challenges, certain states and territories have achieved notable success in waste recovery and recycling. South Australia leads the way with an impressive resource recovery rate of 80%, primarily driven by its longstanding recycle-and-earn initiative. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) follows closely behind with a recovery rate of 69%. These recovery rates include recycling, waste reuse, and energy recovery.
The Australian government has recognized the urgency of addressing waste management and has set ambitious targets. By 2025, the government aims to ensure that all packaging in the country is recyclable, compostable, or reusable. Additionally, the National Waste Policy Action Plan has identified seven targets with 80 supporting actions to be collaboratively achieved by governments, industries, and communities.
To combat the waste crisis, Australians are encouraged to reduce, recycle, and reuse materials. Individuals can play a significant role by cutting down on single-use plastics and responsibly disposing of recyclable materials. Additionally, supporting initiatives like Replas and fixing or recycling items can make a substantial difference. Businesses and manufacturers are also taking the initiative by developing efficient processing techniques and exploring new markets for recycled products.
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Energy recovery
Australia's resource recovery rate (including recycling, waste reuse, and energy recovery) for 2020-21 was 63%, with a recycling rate of 60%. This has not improved since the previous report. Energy recovery, also known as Energy from Waste (EfW) or Waste to Energy (W2E), is an umbrella term for technologies, processes, and practices that convert waste materials into energy or fuel.
Organic waste, such as food waste, garden waste, and wastewater, can be used to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion. This process uses bacteria to transform organic waste into biogas, which is then processed for use as a carbon-neutral substitute for natural gas or to generate power. Anaerobic digestion produces methane, which can be used for electricity generation. However, this method is not yet widely used at scale for solid waste due to costs.
Non-recyclable waste can be diverted from landfills and used to produce Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), an alternative fuel for power generation or a replacement for fossil fuels in energy-intensive industries. RDF facilities process waste into solid fuel used for energy-making in industrial settings and provide a cleaner alternative to burning fossil fuels.
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Plastic waste
The consequences of plastic waste are far-reaching, with approximately 130,000 tonnes of plastic leaking into Australia's marine environment each year. This contributes to the global issue of plastic pollution, where more than 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in our oceans annually. The presence of plastic in the environment is not limited to the oceans, as it is also found in landfills, roadsides, litter in parks, and even our food and water sources. The impact of plastic waste on human health is still being researched, but it is evident that urgent action is required to address this crisis.
To combat the plastic waste problem, Australians are encouraged to reduce their use of single-use plastics and support sustainable businesses. Individuals can make a difference by choosing products with minimal or no plastic packaging, using reusable shopping bags, bottles, and cups, and supporting businesses that offer non-plastic alternatives. These actions send a strong signal to businesses and governments, influencing them to prioritize sustainable practices.
Additionally, there is a growing recognition that manufacturers and retailers should take more responsibility for reducing, reusing, and recycling their plastic packaging. This sentiment is shared by 8 out of 10 Australians, and governments are listening. By working together, we can fix this urgent waste crisis and protect our environment and marine life from the harmful effects of plastic pollution.
To summarize, plastic waste is a significant challenge in Australia, and addressing it requires a multi-faceted approach. While existing policies and initiatives have fallen short, there is a growing awareness and commitment among individuals, businesses, and governments to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic waste. By encouraging sustainable practices and supporting innovative solutions, we can create a more circular economy and minimize the detrimental impact of plastic on our environment.
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Frequently asked questions
The recycling rate in Australia is 60%. However, the resource recovery rate (recycling, waste reuse, and energy recovery) is 63%.
In the 2022-23 reporting period, Australia generated 75.6 million tonnes of waste, or 2.88 tonnes per person. This figure has increased by 5.6 million tonnes (8%) over the past 6 years.
South Australia has the highest recovery rate of any state or territory in Australia at 80%.
