The Cost of Waste in Australia: Financial Implications Backed by Statistic
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 follow a zero-waste lifestyle, this staggering waste crisis harms the country’s thriving, vibrant, and sustainable communities.
As such, let’s explore the perplexing financial and environmental costs of Australia’s surging waste issues and why sustainable waste management matters.
Overview of Waste Generation in Australia
The Global Waste Index 2022 revealed that Australia lands the 19th spot with the highest waste generation per capita. In perspective, a typical Aussie discards about 559 kg of rubbish or almost half the weight of a car. While half of it remains landfilled, only a quarter is recycled.
Let’s see how this adds to the nation’s total waste generation and which industry catapults this massive rubbish issue.
Annual Waste Generation Statistics
Australia generated about 75.8 megatonnes (Mt) of waste in 2020-21, up 10% in 2016-17 (68.9 Mt). That weighs as heavy as 1,435 Sydney Harbour Bridge. Here’s the figure’s breakdown by category:
- Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): 14.0 Mt
- Commercial & Industrial (C&I): 32.8 Mt
- Construction & Demolition (C&D): 29.0 Mt
Of all this, the country reused about 3.5 Mt and recycled 42 Mt of this generated trash. That combined figures equated to a 60% waste recycling and reuse rate. Meanwhile, the recovery rate spiked to 63%, diverting rubbish heaps from landfills and waterways.
Trends in Waste Growth and Management Needs
Since 2006-07, Australia’s waste generation has increased by 12.8 Mt (20%). Due to the extensive infrastructure development, the C&D waste stream doubled to 22.4 Mt in the past 15 years. The good news is that per capita waste generation fell by 3.3% within the same timeframe.
However, Australians added over one million tonnes yearly from 2016 to 2021. Despite this increase, the recycling rate stagnated at around 60%. One key reason recycling efforts remained slow-moving is the financial implications of waste management.
Financial Cost of Waste Disposal in Australia
Besides the hassle of managing excessive waste, the government exhausts its precious resources to combat this escalating trash problem on a continental scale. Let’s uncover how much Australia spends on managing this waste.
Government Spending on Waste Management
The ABS reported that Australia spent $17 billion on waste management in 2018-19. A huge slice of this fund went to operating curbside collections, public waste management, and building disposal and recycling infrastructure. This figure hits a record high, even without the private sector.
Meanwhile, the local government collected about 9.7 Mt of waste via kerbside bin services in 2020-21. Such a volume could fit around 6.47 million cars! This enormous waste tonnage could overwhelm the country’s transfer (depot) stations, recovery or recycling facilities, and landfills without actionable strategies.
Cost of Landfill Operations
While Australia’s waste recycling rates have stalled at 60%, most unrecycled rubble often ends up in landfills. Given such reliance, how much do Aussies spend on landfill disposal?
The full cost of landfilling depends on the site’s establishment, operations, and end-of-life management–including the greenhouse gases released and potential hazardous waste leached. For example, landfill disposal costs $45-$105 per tonne in urban areas and $42-$102 per tonne in rural areas.
These figures fluctuate based on landfill size, waste type accepted, and upkeep measures. For instance, large best-practice landfills charge as low as $25 per tonne, yet it costs $45 or more per tonne in smaller landfill sites. Such pricing may also cover the site’s rehabilitation and post-closure costs.
Impact of Increasing Landfill Costs on Households and Businesses
Though disposal is not free, increasing landfill costs deter households and businesses from properly disposing of waste. Exhausting landfill capacity is one prime reason for driving disposal costs. In Greater Sydney, for instance, the EPA expects its landfill space to run out by 2030.
Such congested landfills catapult waste management disposal fees and taxes. The alternative solution is to transport waste to regional areas, which burdens residents financially. Not only that, but this increases costs for construction waste, hampering critical infrastructure growth.
The Environmental and Social Costs of Waste
When disposing of daily trash, most people never consider that the planet is drowning in waste. Without actionable strategies, excessive waste’s grim consequences exempt no one. Let’s delve into waste's environmental and social impacts in more detail.
Environmental Impact of Landfills and Waste Incineration
Solid waste management generated about 9.8 Mt of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) in 2019-20, accounting for 2% of Australia’s total. That’s equivalent to CO2 emissions from 20.5 million barrels of oil consumed or 23.7 natural gas-fired power plants in one year!
National accounting even suggests that depositing a 20-tonne load of municipal waste in landfills without gas capture systems creates more pollution than driving that load 14,000 km around the continent. These towering rubbish mountains incapacitate landfills and incinerators, accelerating habitat destruction and pollution.
Social Impact of Waste Accumulation in Communities
The hefty cost and inconvenience of waste disposal may tempt some to discard unwanted items illegally. In NSW alone, one in 10 residents had illegally dumped rubbish elsewhere. That is concerning, as it poses health and safety risks for the community and the workers cleaning it up.
Aside from being unsightly, the EPA suggested that one social impact of illegally dumped rubbish in the neighbourhood is reducing community morale. One critical downside is that it discourages visitors from the area, reducing tourism and property values. What’s more, it damages the council and land managers' reputation for being unable to deal with it.
Economic Value Lost Due to Low Recycling Rates
Australia’s recycling industry contributed $18.9 billion to the economy in 2021-22. Even though the recycling rate remained at 63%, this delivered a massive economic gain. That explains why landfilled valuable materials, especially finite resources like metals and plastics, have lost economic potential.
Not to mention that landfilling waste is more expensive than recycling. For example, levies cost over $130 per tonne of waste, enough to maintain the landfills. In contrast, you’ll gain $70-$270 from scrapping 1 tonne of steel junk, which is fully recyclable and uses fewer resources than starting from scratch. However, given the low recycling rates of waste types other than metal, landfill remains the easiest option.
Economic Benefits of Waste Reduction and Recycling
The Australian recycling industry recovered and processed 40.6 million tonnes of materials in 2020-21. That equates to 1,568 kilograms of recycled waste for each person in the country. On a national scale, the industry supports 1,828 business operations, providing 94,235 jobs to Aussies. That’s equivalent to one job in every 142 jobs in the country.
Meanwhile, Australian communities generate $465 for every 1 tonne of recycled material. Every 431 tonnes of recycled material supports one job in businesses. Recycling 1 tonne of valuable materials (e.g. metals, plastics, etc.) generates roughly $361.10 in revenue.
Waste Costs by Types and Treatments
Increasing collection fees curb the waste tonnage going to disposal and recycling facilities. At worst, expensive disposal costs can result in illegally dumped junk. So, how much does a typical Aussie pay to dispose of waste?
One prime consideration for disposal cost is the type and amount of rubbish you throw. In most states, the average disposal price for non-hazardous items in landfills is around $85-$219 per tonne. The shrinking landfill capacities in NSW suggest why the state has the highest disposal fee, while Tasmania and ACT, with adequate landfill spaces, offer lower disposal charges.
On the other hand, the disposal fee for hazardous waste is around $179-$257 per tonne. These incurring charges fluctuate depending on the hazardous waste types (e.g. chemicals, asbestos, medical waste, etc.) and treatments needed.
Meanwhile, recycling costs vary depending on the waste material. For example, recycling masonry material costs $30 per tonne and about $38 per tonne of metals, paper or cardboard, plastics, and glass. In most Australian states, organic recycling costs around $70 per tonne.
Solutions to Reduce the Cost of Waste in Australia
How can Australians reduce waste-related costs? One prime option is implementing zero-waste and recycling programs. Aussies can eliminate waste by reusing, recycling, and composting instead of favouring end-of-pipe options like landfill and incineration technologies.
One crucial step for this to succeed is the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which ensures manufacturers are responsible for the entire lifecycle of products and packaging. Such a scheme prompts industries to design and craft more recyclable and reusable materials.
Investing in new tech is another way to bolster the recycling rate and reduce costs. Smart sorting and robotic automation accelerate the sorting process accurately beyond human speed. These advanced technologies will likely bolster resource recovery from waste, diverting rubbish from landfills.
Meanwhile, the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) provides a 10-cent refund for consumers returning their containers and bottle waste. This scheme promotes active participation and secures higher-value materials for reprocessing into new products. In 2020-21 alone, the CDS collected about 5.7 million containers bound for recycling.
Secure An Affordable Waste Disposal With Us
Understanding the financial impacts of waste is essential for driving the country toward sustainability. Proactive public engagement is crucial to curb excessive waste. By embracing zero-waste programs, recycling initiatives, and efficient waste removal services, Aussies are steps ahead in reducing waste-related costs and fostering a vibrant community.
All Gone Rubbish Removals provides affordable, safe, eco-friendly waste removal services. We’ve been providing reliable rubbish removal solutions to thousands of Sydneysiders. We have a long-established reputation for sustainable waste disposal and recycling, partnering with top recycling facilities across Sydney.
All Gone Rubbish Removals provides same-day rubbish removal services across Sydney, the Central Coast, Gosford, Newcastle, and the Gold Coast. Call us today for the best-priced rubbish removal service in your area!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does waste disposal cost in Australia?
Australia’s waste disposal fees vary depending on the type and size. Disposing of non-hazardous waste costs between $85 and $219 in all states. Meanwhile, the disposal cost for hazardous waste can be around $183-$257 per tonne, fluctuating based on its highly toxic composition and the treatments required.
What are the environmental costs of waste?
Australia’s waste management, from rubbish disposal to landfill and incineration, generated about 9.8 Mt of CO2e. That’s equivalent to the CO2 emissions from 9 billion pounds of coal burned or 408 million propane cylinders used for home barbecues. Beyond this massive emission, the country’s swelling waste releases toxic chemicals that can likely pollute the surrounding soil structure and waterways.
How can households and businesses reduce their waste costs?
Avoiding impulsive buying is key to reducing waste costs. Repurposing, recycling, and composting are essential to shifting waste into useful resources. Donating or selling unwanted quality items also helps. Adopting green practices such as patronising reusable items and eco-friendly packaging is crucial to curbing the financial implications of generated waste in households and businesses.
Why are landfill costs rising in Australia?
As Australia’s waste streams soar tremendously, the exhausted landfill capacities can only take a limited amount. That explains why landfill costs are rising, as more waste requires hefty transportation to regional and interstate areas for robust processing and disposal. Such an urgent issue calls for a collective responsibility to reduce waste and keep waste streams clean so they can be more recyclable, limiting the reliance on landfills.
What services do All Gone Rubbish Removals offer for affordable waste management?
At All Gone Rubbish Removals, we deliver exceptional removal of all waste types and amounts. With over a decade of industry experience, we provide cheap, efficient, safe waste disposal Sydney-wide. We’re equipped with the latest machinery and tools to collect and sort rubbish from household, commercial, construction, and deceased estates, ensuring responsible disposal and recycling.