Category: Rubbish Statistics

Ever wonder how well Aussies manage their waste? Australia currently ranks 35th in waste management globally, a huge drop from 11th place in the 2022 Yale Environmental Performance Index. At worst, this could spiral as the country’s single-use culture intensifies. Simply put, opting for disposable products and packaging contributes to skyrocketing rubbish generation. Unless you […]

Despite living in a water-scarce country, Australians consumed about 13,449 gigalitres (GL) of water in 2021-22. That’s nearly 27 times the volume of Sydney Harbour. Along with this massive thirst for water consumption is the flood of bottle waste in the beaches, parks, and waterways. Clean Up 2023 collected 31,566 beverage bottles, ranking third as […]

Australia has the second-highest reforestation rate globally, trailing behind China within the past decade. As the country’s landscape expands with such vast timber resources, so does its wood waste volume. Without actionable measures, this crisis hampers the nation’s sustainable future. Why does recovering squandered wood debris matter? These skyrocketing wood waste mounds can fuel industries […]

Mobile phones have been a part of life in Australia, as evidenced by the current 23 million mobile users. However, because of changing technology and newer devices coming onto the market, mobile phone waste statistics have increased. Understanding the scope of this problem is critical because it has serious implications for consumers and policymakers regarding […]

The allure of fast fashion can be irresistible, enabling anyone to adopt the latest clothing trends at budget-friendly prices. While many view inexpensive clothing as disposable, this fuels a crisis beyond wardrobes. Australians even buy more clothes per person than any other country! According to the Australia Institute’s research, Australia has the highest textile consumption […]

Australia deeply depends on and values metals, so much so that it ranks fifth in recycling metal waste and other components globally. However, its metal recycling rate still has room for improvement. The country sends scrap metals like over 250,000 average-sized cars to landfills annually! Discover key metal waste trends and recycling rates in Australia […]

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 […]

Australia is a water-scarce country, yet its population uses around 16,500 gigalitres of water— enough to fill Sydney Harbour 33 times. Many Aussies rarely consider their water source and where wastewater goes after use. The typical Australian consumes 82,000 litres of fresh water. Utilities lose around 80-110 litres of water per day before it reaches […]

Australia produces enough food to feed its population three times. While a third of this food volume ends up in the dump, 3.7 million households struggle to put meals on their tables. That’s more than the combined residences of Sydney and Melbourne! Besides the leftovers that could’ve been eaten, food waste consists of inedible and […]

There’s a problem with plastic straw waste that many of us do not realise. Who would have guessed that something as small and seemingly simple as plastic straws could pose a serious environmental threat? Sustainability Victoria has uncovered the alarming reality of plastic straw waste in Australia. Australians use around 10 million single-use plastic straws […]

What do you do with an old wooden table? How about wooden cabinet frames you discarded from a recent kitchen makeover? And what about wood bits and scraps from your latest woodworking project? In Australia, you can’t just dump wooden furniture, wood waste, and construction materials in the bin. Timber and wood waste must be […]

Australians are among the highest users of technologies, so avidly that the country ranks fifth as the world’s top producer of e-waste. With Aussies frequently keeping up with new advancements, nearly everyone contributes to this growing e-waste. E-waste is any product containing electrical or electronic parts discarded after reaching its end of life. It includes […]

In a world full of waste streams, Australia stepped up to resolve the problem. The local councils manage the recycling project, with their own rules about what can and cannot go in recycling bins. This article will help you understand how the Australian government and its citizens tackle the problems of rubbish and how they […]

Littering is a global problem affecting everyone on our planet—humans, plants, animals, and the environment. We see pieces of litter everywhere, including parks, schools, and almost any street.  They come in different forms, including candy wrappers, plastic bags, and drink cans. But it doesn't end in land. Trillions of waste debris also exist in our […]

Every year, Australians throw away approximately 1.84 billion single-use coffee cups—most of which fill up landfills and oceans. By coffee cups, that includes their plastic lids, polluting waterways and oceans at a rate estimated to triple by 2040.  With those figures and forecasts in mind, the government, local businesses, and consumers are shifting away from […]