The biennial 2022 National Waste Report released Friday has found that Australians generated almost 3 per cent more waste compared to 2018-19, while the country’s recycling rate remained stagnant at 60 per cent.
According to the report, in 2020-21, Australia generated an estimated 75.8 million tonnes of waste, equivalent to 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 million tonnes), and hazardous waste (7.4 million tonnes).
Recycling and recovery rates were highest for metals (87 per cent), building materials (81 per cent), paper and cardboard (62 per cent), organics (58 per cent), and glass (59 per cent).
Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek said that every piece of rubbish ending up in landfill was a missed opportunity to contribute to a circular economy.
“We know that the way we are doing things now is not sustainable,” she said. “Australians want to reduce their waste and use fewer disposable items in the first place – but we have to set up our economy to help them do this. We need to get serious about reducing resource waste – including reducing the use of plastic in the first place.
“Environment ministers committed in October this year to work with the private sector to design out waste and pollution, keep materials in use and foster markets to achieve a circular economy.
“I recently announced the formation of a new Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group. This group will provide advice about opportunities for Australia and strategies that will help us to get more value from the resources we use throughout our economy.”
Plibersek said there were more than three times the number of jobs in recycling for every job in landfill.
“That’s why we’re investing $250 million in infrastructure and state-of-the-art advanced recycling solutions to sort, process and remanufacture plastic, glass, paper, and tyres into valuable new products,” she said.
“This includes $60 million in the recent budget for hard-to-recycle plastics such as soft plastics.
“We’re also supporting industry-led product stewardship to keep materials in use.”
Plibersek said the Federal Government was prepared to regulate if the industry was unable to achieve results by itself.
To read the report, visit: www.dcceew.gov.au
Related stories:
New advisory group to guide Australia’s circular economy transition
Planet Ark, ACE Hub release State of Circularity in Australia report