Waste Statistics Australia: Everything You Need To Know

Australia generates enough waste to fill the Sydney Opera House 800 times annually. While it ranks tenth with the cleanest air globally, the mountains of trash ravaging its pristine coasts, rugged wilderness, and vibrant communities starkly contrast.

How does the nation push to solve its massive waste crisis? Even though Australia has made strides in recycling, it’s far from fixing the problem. It will likely overwhelm its limited landfills without actionable strategies to reduce the country’s waste substantially. 

Read on to explore Australia’s key waste statistics, guiding you in taking data-driven actions to ensure more resilient, thriving, and sustainable communities.

Overview of Waste Management in Australia

The Global Waste Index 2022 revealed that Australia was 19th among the biggest waste-producing nations. Australians produce 559 kg of rubbish annually, almost double the global average (about 270 kg per person). 

Let’s take a closer look at these numbers. 

Annual Waste Generation in Australia

The most updated stats show that Australia generated 75.8 million tonnes of rubbish in 2020-21. That’s a 10% increase in just a year (68.9 million tonnes in 2016-17). So, which sector contributes a huge chunk of these mind-bending figures?

Here’s a detailed breakdown of Australia’s total waste volume:

• Households: 14.0 megatonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW)
• Businesses: 32.8 megatonnes of commercial and industrial (C&I) waste 
• Industries: 29.0 megatonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste

Since 2006-07, waste generation has increased by 12.8 million tonnes. The good news is that lighter-weight packaging and easiest-to-recycle materials have prompted the gradual decline of household and business waste over the years. However, C&D waste grew by 39% per capita due to major development projects across Australia’s metropolitan areas. 

Breakdown of Waste Streams

While much attention is given to household wastes, identifying what compose the national waste stream is vital to reducing its total volume. This can be categorised into:

• General Waste: This includes most rubbish unfit for recycling or composting processes, such as food scraps, broken glasses, disposable cutleries, packaging, and plastic bags.
• Recyclables: These can be processed and reused, including plastic bottles, jars, metal scraps, aluminium cans, paper, and cardboard items. 
• Green Waste: Organics from gardens and yards like grass clippings, leaves, branches, twigs, weeds, tree stumps, and timber waste.
• E-waste: Electronic waste, including smartphones, computers, laptops, TVs, printers, scanners, and kitchen appliances. 
• Hazardous Waste: It typically consists of toxic, flammable, and corrosive items, such as discarded chemicals, fuel and solvents, paints, asbestos, gasoline, batteries, and medical waste.

Recycling and Landfill Rates Across Australia

Australia recycles over half of its national waste streams (38.5 million tonnes in 2018-19). While it’s a promising rate, the country still has a long way to go. Let’s see which state has propelled the country’s recycling rates.

Recycling Statistics by State

Resource recovery centres are often available in metropolitan cities but are limited to most remote and regional areas. These facilities mostly employ waste recycling and energy recovery. 

Here are the varying recycling rates for each Australian state in 2018-19:

• South Australia 80%
• Australian Capital Territory 75%
• New South Wales 65%
• Victoria 65%
• Western Australia 60% 
• Queensland 42%
• Tasmania 39%
• Northern Territory 19% 

These figures indicate that infrastructure alone is not the only factor influencing recycling rates. One variable is the hefty cost of transporting rubbish over long distances. 

Even though some states have higher collection rates, recycling is likely not feasible due to lower material quantities and limited local markets for recovered materials. 

Landfill Waste Trends

Landfill sites are often the options left when waste recycling is not viable. About 27% (20.5 million tonnes) of the country’s total waste went to 1,168 landfill sites in 2018-19. That weighs similar to over 10.25 million cars, enough to cover a small city or large town!

How could this impact the environment? While landfill gas is being collected more for energy conversion, the waste sector still emits 2.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e)—matching the CO2 emissions from 2.5 billion pounds of coal burned!

Aside from gas emissions, landfilled trash creates leachate, a liquid formed when rubbish decomposes. It can leak when not adequately contained, attracting vermin and contaminating groundwater. Other waste types, like e-waste and metal appliances, may contain toxic chemicals that can leach and pollute the soil and waterways.

Plastic Waste and Recycling Challenges

Do all wastes go straight into landfills if not in recycling facilities? Aside from wastewater flushed in sewage, heaps of plastic litter often end up in the ocean. In reality, about three-quarters of coastal marine debris is plastic. 

Most sources of these plastics are found in major urban areas. In 2020-21 alone, the country generated 2.63 megatonnes of plastic waste, or a typical person discarding 102 kg of plastic in a year. Most of its types, especially single-use plastics, still have low recycling rates.

While the single-use plastic ban exists, recycling efforts continually cut the surging plastic litter. For example, Curbcycle’s ‘Curby Soft Plastics Program’ allows householders to recycle their soft plastics. Once discarded, recyclers collect and process them for reuse. The Central Coast trial even diverted about 10 tonnes of soft plastic from landfills.

Industry-Specific Waste Statistics

Industry-specific trash contributes a far greater share to the country’s colossal waste volume. Understanding the numbers behind these industries is key to solving the waste challenges through sustainable actions. Let’s dive into these in closer detail. 

Construction and Demolition Waste

Over one-third of Australia’s total waste was construction and demolition rubbish in 2020-21. Since 2006, the reuse and recycling of C&D waste has more than doubled to 22.4 megatonnes. That’s due to its increasing reprocessing, which mainly became an alternative source of materials for road bases and construction aggregates in most states’ expanding metropolitans.

E-waste generation and Disposal

E-waste can contain valuable materials as well as toxic substances. Australia generated 531 kilotonnes of e-waste in 2020-21, equivalent to over 260,000 cars discarded. Only 54% of electronic waste was recycled, while the rest congested landfills.

While most electronics become obsolete quickly, proper e-waste disposal increases their recycling chance. E-waste recycling is key to conserving resources, reducing the demand for raw materials, and preventing toxic chemicals from contaminating the country’s vast grounds and waterways.

Food Waste and Organic Waste Data

Australia’s food waste is a concerning issue as the country generates 7.8 million tonnes annually. That equals an average Aussie squandering 298 kg of food scraps, more than double the global average (132 kg per person). How does the country solve this?

The National Food Waste Strategy targets reducing food waste by half by 2030. While projected food waste will reach 9.2 million tonnes in 2030, the strategy develops stringent measures and initiatives to cut 22.4 million tonnes of wasted food. 

Meanwhile, food rescue organisations like Foodbank provided food and grocery relief to 2,844 front-line charities and 3,379 school breakfast programs. They redirected surplus food before it ended up in landfills. While initiatives exist at all levels, public education, incentives, and engagement are crucial to reducing food waste in Australia. 

Impact of Waste on the Environment and Economy

Australia’s waste is more than unsightly, overflowing bins. Let’s briefly explore how these staggering rubbish volumes strain the country’s landscape and economy.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Waste

Each step in waste management contributes to the country’s overall carbon footprint. In 2019-20 alone, rubbish from landfills, treatment, and incineration facilities emitted about 9.8 million tonnes of CO2e. That contributed roughly 2.0% to Australia’s total greenhouse emissions. 

To put this into perspective, such greenhouse gas emissions are equivalent to 2.1 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year. Discarding such a volume is similar to the C02 emissions from 2.3 coal-fired power plants in one year!

Economic Costs of Waste Disposal

Australia’s total expenditure on waste collection, disposal, and treatment initiatives was valued at 16,989 million. While this exponentially drains the country’s finances, recycling recoverable and reusable materials would ease this swelling cost. Robust recycling efforts would stimulate economic growth by providing more jobs and conserving valuable resources.

Government Policies and Waste Reduction Initiatives

How extensive are Australia’s efforts in waste reduction? The National Waste Policy Action Plan targets reducing total waste generated by 10% per person by 2030. Additionally, it plans to scale the resource recovery rate by 80% from all waste streams.

For example, the NSW waste strategy is to reduce litter by 30% by 2025. South Australia’s initiative even includes zero avoidable waste to landfill by 2030. Meanwhile, Tasmania sets to use 100% of all its packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.  

Australia’s national plan will phase out all problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025. This includes eliminating single-use plastic products, which will bolster plastic waste reduction. By implementing strict measures, more manufacturers are likely to design sustainable plastic products that are more recyclable and reusable.

How Households and Businesses Can Reduce Waste

Australia’s national waste reduction plan is unlikely to work without public involvement. Implementing actionable strategies is key to minimising waste at the source. The action-oriented steps below elaborate on how your home or business can contribute to the waste solutions. 

Tips for Reducing Household Waste

Homes are often the epicentres of waste generation. However, adjusting a few of your daily routines is essential to reducing your household’s carbon footprint through:

• Recycling: Understanding which discarded items are recyclable is crucial to drive the recycling efforts in your neighbourhood. Proactive recycling also means opting for recycled products to ensure a sustainable solution to waste reduction.
• Composting: Start composting your food scraps and garden organics to create nutrient-rich, organic fertilisers or mulch for your lush greeneries.
• Waste Reduction: Repairing and reusing old items is key to avoiding unnecessary purchases. Opt for products with minimal packaging to consistently reduce rubbish.

Business Strategies for Sustainable Waste Management

The business sector has a bigger role in reducing the country’s waste. Various industries can contribute to a greener planet by adopting actionable and cost-effective strategies, such as: 

• Eco-friendly Waste Disposal: Establish clear guidelines and dedicated areas to promote waste recycling and composting. Explore eco-friendly product packaging and component options to prevent more commercial waste from landfill sites.
• Sustainable Procurement: Source sustainable products and materials that have lower environmental impact.  
• Employee Engagement: Provide training and resources on waste reduction and sustainability to heighten environmental responsibility and green initiatives among employees.

All Gone Rubbish Removals provides same-day rubbish removal services across Sydney, Central Coast, Gosford, Newcastle and Gold Coast. Call us today for the best-priced rubbish removal service in your area!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much waste does Australia produce annually?

While it varies annually, the most recent stat reported that Australia generated about 76 million of waste in 2020-21. Over two-thirds originate from business and industrial waste streams, while households generate almost one-third of the country’s total waste volume.

Which state has the highest recycling rate?

Australia’s recycling rate is about 60% in all waste streams. In 2018-19, South Australia had the highest recycling rate at 80%, followed by the Australian Capital Territory (75%), NSW, and Victoria (both at 65%). Adequate recycling facilities and a competitive market for recovered materials in major metropolitan areas were likely to drive these figures. 

How much plastic waste does Australia generate?

The country produced about 2.63 megatonnes of plastic waste in 2020-21. That’s equivalent to a typical Aussie throwing 102 kg of plastic items annually. It decreased minimally from 2.66 in 2016-17, with about half still coming from the C&I waste stream.

What are Australia’s national waste reduction targets?

Australia’s National Waste Policy Plan targets reducing total waste generated by 10% per person by 2030. Other objectives include reaching an 80% average resource recovery rate from all waste streams and halving the landfilled organic waste volume by 2030. It’s also phasing out all problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025, especially single-use plastics.

How can businesses improve their waste management practices?

Conducting a waste audit is crucial to identify the types and quantities of rubbish your business generates. Once you pinpoint the issues, implement strategies to reduce waste by reusing materials and optimising recycling efforts. 

Doing so may require investing in sustainable technologies, engaging employees through training, and incentivising participation. Partnering with waste management experts is key to tailoring waste solutions, enabling your business to achieve sustainable operations.

All Gone Rubbish Removals have been at the forefront of sustainable waste management across Sydney. Contact our expert team for eco-conscious, sustainable waste disposal solutions.