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This page is about Recycling in Australia. For other uses, see Waste Management in Australia.

In Australia, recycling is an integral part of waste management. Australia's recycling industry is dominated by private companies. [1]The major companies undertaking to recycle include ResourceCo, Cleanaway, and Suez. [1] From 2016 to 2017, the estimated total amount of recycling in Australia was 31.7 million tonnes, the three largest categories were masonry waste recycling (12.3 Mt), organic matter recycling (7.3 Mt) and metal (5 Mt)[2]. According to the waste stream classification, construction and demolition(C&D) accounted for the largest proportion of 43%, followed by commercial and industrial(C&I) with 37% and Municipal solid waste (MSW) 20%. [3]

On September 25, 2015, more than 100 countries in the world, including Australia, formulated new sustainable development goals at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, aimed at eradicating poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all. [2] Each target has a specific schedule to be completed in the next 15 years. Among them, the sustainable development goals are mainly embodied in paying attention to responsible consumption and production patterns. In response, the Australian government released the National Waste Policy in 2018 to promote recycling. [2]

Australian Waste and Recycling industry overview

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Construction and Demolition (C&D); Commercial and Industrial (C&I) and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) are three main streams of Australian waste. Waste collection and transfer; sorting; recycling and reuse; and landfill for non recyclable waste are four significant sectors in the Australian waste and recycling industry. [3] Australian waste management and recycling take the form of collaboration between government agencies and private companies. Australia's recyclable materials are exported to more than 100 countries, mainly in Southeast Asia. Among the recyclable materials, metals; paper and cardboards; and plastics are the three major export categories. According to the statistic of 2016-17, metals are mainly exported to Vietnam, and the largest recipient country of paper and cardboard, and plastics is China. [1]

Recyclable keep-cup

Kerbside recycling  

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In Australia, household recycling is encouraged through kerbside collection with the yellow-lid recycling bins. [1]According to the statistics of 2006, there only 1% household not engaged in recycling. [1][2] Typical kerbside bins collection includes metal, mixed paper and cardboard, plastic containers and glass packing; there have differences between areas due to processing capacity and recovery facilities. [1][2] However, the bins are using to contain all the recyclable waste, which means that paper, glass and hard plastic are in the same recycling bin. Paper and cardboard account for the largest proportion in recycling bins, about 46% to 57% and this figure has declined since the electric ones have replaced some paper products; glass about 20%-35%; plastics about 6-9%; metals (aluminium and cans) about 3-5%. Besides, the estimated contamination rate of the bins is about 4-16% by weight, which affected by regional development characteristics. [4]

Main aspects of Australia recycling policy

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Paper and cardboard

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According to the statistics of National Waste report 2018, [1] 60% of paper and cardboard were recycled, the rest was sent to landfill. Paper and cardboard are recycled through kerbside collection.For the year 2016-17, about 60% of nearly 5.6 Mt are recycled of waste was recycled and turn into energy.

Plastics

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Plastics waste was 2.5Mt in 2016-2017, only 12% was recycled, and 87% was sent to landfill. [3] The Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) contains regulations for the recycling of plastic bottles and containers. [5] CDS was first promulgated in South Australia in 1977. [6] As of 2020, except for Victoria and Tasmania, which plans to implement this plan before 2023, the rest of Australian states and territories have implemented it. [7][8]

Plastics bags are not accepted by curbside collection of most communities, the plastic bag ban has been implemented in seven of Australia's eight states and territories, except for NSW.[9] In Australia, REDcyle program could receives the soft plastic bags. [10]

Metals

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From 2016 to 2017, Australia produced 226 kg of metal waste per capita, and the metal recycling rate is as high as 90%, which is higher than any other material waste.[11] Every state and territory of Australia provide the metal recycling services. For the households, scrap metals are usually collected by the local council and recycling companies. As of 2018, the CDS of South Australia, the Northern Territory and NSW contains to collect aluminium cans.[11] People could find the drop-off locations and businesses pickup in “Recycling near you”. [12]

Glass packing

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Figures for 2016-17 show that 57 per cent of about 1.1 million tonnes of metal have been recovered.[3] Most glass packaging is collected in a mixed form. Collect from places of business such as bars, clubs, stadiums, hotels and restaurants, or through container storage stations and associated return routes. These mixed materials will be sent to garbage collection stations in the capital and regional centres, where glass will be sorted from paper, plastic and metal. Composite glass, with its top and label, will be sent to one of the six concentrators in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane for processing. These factories receive some goods from the region, including glass from Western Australia and the Northern Territory to Adelaide, and glass from Tasmania to Melbourne.[11]

E-waste

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The 2018 National Waste Report suggests that approximately 485 kt of electronic have been generated between 2016-17, which increases by 3.8% compared to the previous year. [3] The heavy metals and toxic substances contained in some e-waste cause significant harm to the environment. The Australian government took note of this problem and issued regulations to regulate the treatment and recycling of e-waste. There have three major legalizations of Australian E-waste management. [13]

  1. National Waste Policy 2009 [14]
  2. Product Stewardship Act 2011[15]
  3. National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme 2011 (NTCRS)[16]

The Australian government introduced NTCRS in 2011, [16] which aims to provide Australian households and small businesses with free collection and recycling of televisions and computers. However, the plan requires producers in the television and computer industries to provide financial support for the disposal of discarded televisions and computers. The goal is to increase the recycling rate of Australian TVs and computers, increasing it from 17% in 2010-11 to 80% during 2021-22.[17]

Water

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Australia has the driest continent inhabited by humans, and rainfall varies widely.[18] Moreover, the annual growth rate of the Australian population is 1.5%.[19] 2019 was the warmest year in Australia. Climate change has exacerbated water supply constraints. The temperature was 1.52 degrees Celsius higher than the average temperature of 1961-1990, but the precipitation is 40% less than the average rainfall of 1961 -1990.[19] However, the 1990 restrictions on the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge to receiving water caused a surge in demand for recycled water resources. The millennium drought (2000-2009) further increased the demand for water recycling and desalination. Australia’s water reform policy has established guidelines for circulating water, including increased rainwater and drinking water.[20] There is an advanced purification spreading water plant for indirect drinking water reuse was built in Brisbane. In the new suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, dual pipelines for drinking and circulating water have been installed, which expanded the use of recycled water for agriculture, industry and comfort.[19]

States & Territories and recycling

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Although the whole of Australia advocates recycling behaviour, reducing waste and increasing recycling rate are common goals. Still, due to the different social and economic conditions between states and territories, there are discrepancies in their respective recycling goals, initiatives and strategies.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

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ACT’s waste recycling and reuse rate reach more than 70%, and it is committed to creating a sustainable social environment.[3] The ACT Container Deposit Scheme will start on 30 June 2018; people could trade their eligible containers to get a 10-cent refund.[21]

  • The new Waste Management and Resource Recovery Act 2016 commenced on 1 July 2017. The Act 2016 aims to utilise the waste hierarchy to guide the public to minimising the waste; enhance the consciousness of waste reduction to maximising recovery rate.[3]
  • In 2018-19, ACT plan to roll out the green bins for recycling garden organics.[22][3]
  • Following the study on waste feasibility, exploring more options for recycling of green waste and food waste. [23]
NSW Burwood recycling bins
Recycling in NSW Burwood

New South Wales (NSW)

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The NSW Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has released the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2014-21.[24][3] The strategy sets out a seven-year framework for waste management and resource recovery activities in NSW. Besides, EPA has developed a new method to measure recycling performance and waste management. [24] The technique will ensure the validity and reliability of recycling data. NSW intends to share the data and form a national standard of the recycling data. Waste Less Recycle More (WLRM) is the most extensive federal funding program which launched from 2012 and its financial support from the waste levy of NSW.[2][3] WLRM supports the actions of reducing waste, improve the recycling capacity by invest in infrastructures and hit illegal dumping.

Northern Territory

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The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) is an independent authority established under the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority Act 2012.[25] Furthermore, the NT EPA has framed an eight-year (2015-22) strategy for Northern territory to manage the waste and to increase the resource recovery rate.[26] NT extreme weather had affected waste management data. Moreover, report and collect data by licensees has inconsistencies and inaccuracies, both collecting approaches create the difficulties of improving the recycling rate. For better monitoring the waste data, NT chose to use electric waste tracking system through the EPA online system. [25][3]

Queensland

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Queensland’s target is to build up a zero-waste society.[27] Priorities include reducing waste influences on the communities and environment; transition to the circular economy and build up economic opportunities. The Queensland government is ready to reduce the impact of waste on the environment and society by implementing transparent and clear regulations and policies and establishing a compliance framework.[28]

South Australia

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Green industries SA have a target of the highest waste diversion rate in Australia, and they will keep striving on zero-waste. Waste diversion rate is one of the key performance indicators in the recycling program. From 2003 to 2020, the recovery rate has been raised by approximately 22 per cent with the weight of resources recovery reached nearly 4.4 million tonnes a year.[29] The recovered resources market value is about 356 million dollars from 2017 to 2018. South Australia leads the country with the highest recycling rate.[30] SA also the first state released the Container Deposit Scheme; it has been processing for 43 years till 2020.[6]

Waste management and resources recovery industry contributes a lot to the gross state product, with over 500 million dollars. [31] Around 87 per cent of SA’s recovered materials are reprocessed locally, and 5 per cent is exported to China. Although they are a relatively small fraction to export, however, SA has a high reliance on that. Since China restricted imported waste, the SA government support the recycling industry with 12.4 million assistance.[30][3]

Tasmania

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Tasmanian household recycling is through the kerbside collections that run by the local council as well as several business sectors. Moreover, some business disposes waste and recycling services from the private company. The landfill is the first choice for Hobart's SMEs to deal with municipal and commercial waste. [32] Barriers of Hobart SMEs to engage in recycling participation involves storage containers and areas restrictions; lack of recycling information, and distance to drop-off. [32]Commitments of the 2018 election, the Tasmanian government, would like to promote working with local government to improve the recycling outcomes. [3]

Victoria

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By 2046, Victorians are expected to generate 40% more waste than the figure of 2017-18. [3] Therefore, the recycling rate increment is a vital subject to learn. By 2030, Victoria will implement four-bins system instead of the original three-bins, additional bins are for glass.[33]This program plans to start setting a regional pilot in 2021 and cover the whole state by 2030. The separation of glass is expected to be completed in 2027.[33] The local council will arrange drop-off locations to replace some kerbside collections. Recycling food and garden organic matter may be processed by household composting. To cooperate with the implementation of the new plan, Victoria will carry out related education projects.[33]

Victoria invests nearly 100 million to enhance the capacity of the waste and recycling industry, and they will treat the waste and recycling sector as the essential services.[7]

Western Australia

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Western Australia's practice in recycling is reflected in its waste authority department's Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030.[34] The strategy implies Western Australia is working towards a sustainable, low waste direction; and is committed to developing a circular economy to protect human health and the environment from waste. The Waste Authority of Western Australia has issued a specific annual action plan with specific instructions to meet the target of converting at least 75 per cent of waste into recycling or reuse by 2030.[35][34]

Challenges

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The challenges facing Australia's recycling industry are due to a number of factors, including changes in the international market for recyclable materials, high barriers to organic recycling, weak domestic demand for recyclable products and inadequate infrastructure investment.[36][1] According to Australia's 2018 statistics, 77 per cent of Australians provide roadside recycling services, but 23 percent of remote areas do not.[11]

Processing facility

In terms of the organics recycling industry, only large and financially wealthy operators can enter. To meet the requirements of environmental laws and regulations, the recycling of organic requires high-standard processing equipment, which will increase the cost of facilities and need financial guarantees. Coupled with the uncertainty about the continuous development of the recycled product market, the market result of these factors has prevented SMEs from investing in this field. [3]

Chinese recycling industry restriction

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2018 was a turning point for Australia's recycling industry, as it is one of over 100 affected countries of Chinese recycling new restrictions was introduced. The new limits Operation National Sword narrowed the permissible content of pollutants in the waste load to 0.5%.[37] This requirement exceeds the standard of some Australian recycled materials and directly affects approximately 1.3 million tons, about 4% of Australian recycled waste.[1] Furthermore, China's "National Sword" have affected other waste importing countries, and Thailand and Vietnam will also implement stricter policies. [3][11]

Changes in the international waste recovery market have forced the Australian recycling industry and government to rethink the current state of domestic recycling. Meanwhile, it provides opportunities to improve domestic renewable materials and explore sustainable development methods such as waste-to-energy to promote the circular economy. [38]

For a response to China's recyclable waste imports restrictions, the Seventh Meeting Of Environment Minister (MEM7) 2018 reached the following consensus on waste recycling:

Firstly, an increase in recycling capacity. Expanding and developing the recycling industry to deal with waste that intends to send to China and domestic capabilities.

Secondly, to reduce waste generation and make products easier to recycle. The ministers have set a standard that Australian packaging materials can be 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable on or before 2025. They will monitor the development of recyclable packing approach closely.

Thirdly,  exerting a leadership influence on the industry to guide the industry to reduce waste output and conduct education to raise public awareness of waste reduction.

Fourthly, the ministers advocated increasing the use of recyclable products in government and industry purchasing to create a new market for recycled materials.

Finally, explore more projects that convert waste into energy production as part of a broader industry growth plan to increase industry focus on waste reduction and recycling. Priority is made for recyclable and reusable output, which is also in line with the waste management hierarchy.[39]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Never waste a crisis: the waste and recycling industry in Australia". trove.nla.gov.au. June 2018. Retrieved 2020-11-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f "2018 National Waste Policy". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 2020-11-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "National Waste Report 2018". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 2020-10-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ White, Katherine M.; Hyde, Melissa K. (2011-05-10). "The Role of Self-Perceptions in the Prediction of Household Recycling Behavior in Australia". Environment and Behavior. 44 (6): 785–799. doi:10.1177/0013916511408069. hdl:10072/49718. S2CID 59129563.
  5. ^ WCMS, Webboy net. "Container Deposit Schemes in Australia". Recycling Near You. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  6. ^ a b "Container deposits in SA".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b "Transforming recycling in Victoria". www.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  8. ^ "Recycle". Sustainable Living Tasmania. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  9. ^ "Plastic bag bans – Australia – Info for Australian retailers". Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  10. ^ "What To Redcycle – Redcycle". www.redcycle.net.au. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Analysis of Australia's municipal recycling infrastructure capacity". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 2020-11-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ WCMS, Webboy net. "Planet Ark". Recycling Near You. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  13. ^ Herat, Sunil; Panikkar, Avanish K. (2019-01-01), Prasad, Majeti Narasimha Vara; Vithanage, Meththika (eds.), "Chapter 12 - E-waste Management in Australia: Current Status", Electronic Waste Management and Treatment Technology, Butterworth-Heinemann, pp. 269–284, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-816190-6.00012-1, ISBN 978-0-12-816190-6, retrieved 2020-11-03
  14. ^ "National Waste Policy: Less Waste, More Resources | National Environment Protection Council". www.nepc.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  15. ^ Agriculture. "Product Stewardship Act 2011". www.legislation.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  16. ^ a b "National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 2020-11-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Dias, Pablo; Bernardes, Andréa Moura; Huda, Nazmul (2018-10-01). "Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management: An analysis on the australian e-waste recycling scheme". Journal of Cleaner Production. 197: 750–764. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.161. ISSN 0959-6526.
  18. ^ Young, Ross; Apostolidis, Nick; Hertle, Chris (2011-09-01). "Water Recycling in Australia". Water. 3 (3): 869–881. doi:10.3390/w3030869. ISSN 2073-4441.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  19. ^ a b c Radcliffe, John C.; Page, Declan (2020-01-01). "Water reuse and recycling in Australia- history, current situation and future perspectives". Water Cycle. 1: 19–40. doi:10.1016/j.watcyc.2020.05.005. ISSN 2666-4453.
  20. ^ "National Water Reform" (PDF). 19 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "ACT Container Deposit Scheme". ACT Container Deposit Scheme. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  22. ^ "ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011-2025" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ ACT No waste (May 2018). "WASTE FEASIBILITY STUDY". ACT Government YourSay Community Conversations.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ a b "NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2014–2021".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ a b Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security. "NORTHERN TERRITORY ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY ACT 2012". legislation.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ "Waste management strategy for the Northern Territory 2015-2022". Territory Stories. Retrieved 2020-11-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ Science, jurisdiction=Queensland; sector=government; corporateName=Department of Environment and (2019-04-17). "Environment | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland". Environment | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland. Retrieved 2020-11-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "Recycling and waste in Queensland 2019 report" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ "SA's Waste Strategy". www.greenindustries.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  30. ^ a b South Australia's Waste Strategy 2015-2020. Adelaide, SA .: Green industries SA. 2015.
  31. ^ "Never waste a crisis : the waste and recycling industry in Australia". Trove. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  32. ^ a b Parsons, Sam; Kriwoken, Lorne K. (2009-05-07). "Report: Maximizing recycling participation to reduce waste to landfill: a study of small to medium-sized enterprises in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia". Waste Management & Research. 28 (5): 472–477. doi:10.1177/0734242X08099336. PMID 19423601. S2CID 12527141.
  33. ^ a b c "Four-bin waste and recycling system". www.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  34. ^ a b Waste Authority & Western Australia, Waste Authority (2019). Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy Action Plan 2030: Western Australia's Waste Strategy. Perth, WA: Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
  35. ^ "Home | Waste Authority WA". www.wasteauthority.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  36. ^ Sahajwalla, V. "Big challenges, micro solutions: Closing the loop in australia's waste crisis". AQ: Australian Quarterly. 89 (4): 13–18 – via ProQuest.
  37. ^ "China's waste bans on recycling". www.greenindustries.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  38. ^ "Inside Waste December - January 19 Issue". www.wmrr.asn.au. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  39. ^ Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (27 April 2018). "Seventh Meeting of Environment Ministers Agreed Statement" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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ResourceCo

Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority Act 2012

Meeting Of Environment Minister

Category:Australia Category:Recycling

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