Rubbish Removals Starting From ONLY $69!!! Book Now...
Same Day Service
Upfront Pricing
Rated 4.8
On Google

Metal Waste Statistics Australia

Published in category
by All Gone Admin

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 to guide you in responsible metal waste disposal and ensure a cleaner, more sustainable planet.

Overview of Metal Waste in Australia

Discarded metals often originate from your electronics, appliances, equipment, and machines reaching their end-of-life cycle. That explains why, even with their exceptional properties, metal waste generation is inevitable. Let’s look at the country’s metal waste by the numbers. 

Annual Volume of Metal Waste Generated

According to the National Waste Report 2022, Australia produced 5.71 million tonnes of metal waste. That’s equal to a typical Aussie generating 222 kg of metal waste within a year. Simply put, that’s as heavy as three adult male kangaroos!

Does the country reduce this voluminous metal scrap? The national metal waste tonnage has remained unchanged since 2016-17. About half of it was from the commercial and industrial (C&I) stream, while a quarter each came from municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition (C&D). 

Breakdown by Metal Type

Unless metal junk hasn’t developed corrosion or rust extensively, most valuable components can be recovered and reprocessed in material recovery facilities. So, what metal types are collected from the country’s waste streams? 

Here’s a breakdown of metal types Australia consumed in 2018-19 (8.09 megatonnes):

  • 86% Steel: Generated from construction, demolition, and manufacturing.
  • 8% Aluminium: Originated from packaging, construction, and automotive.
  • 6% Other Metals: Comprised of copper, lead, zinc, and other non-ferrous metals, mostly used in various electronics, appliances, plumbing, wiring, and consumer goods.

Metal Recycling Rates by State and Region

Among all waste types, metals are the most recycled rubbish generated across Australia. That’s due to the adequate recycling facilities in most metropolitan areas. Let’s see how each state does in metal recycling.

State-by-State Recycling Rates

Australia recycled about 4,794 kilotonnes (kt) out of 5,708 kt of metal waste in 2020-21. That’s about 84% recycling rate, down by 3% compared to 2016-17 (5,147 kt). Here’s a detailed look at how each state and territory contributed to the national metal recycling rate:

  • New South Wales: 1,613 kt (33%)
  • Victoria: 1,442 kt (30%)
  • Queensland: 970 kt (20%)
  • Western Australia: 533 kt (11%)
  • South Australia: 351 kt (7%)
  • Australian Capital Territory: 51 kt (1%)
  • Tasmania: 9 kt (0.2%)
  • Northern Territory: 5 kt (0.1%)

While Australia tops the chart in metal recycling, these figures imply that inadequate infrastructure in most rural areas hampers recycling efforts. Hauling bulky scrap metal is a transportation constraint deterring robust metal recycling initiatives for many remote areas. 

How do most states solve these uneven recycling rates? Local initiatives like mobile recycling units and community-based recycling programs are narrowing the gap. Addressing the unique challenges existing in urban and rural areas is key to driving metal recycling rates in Australia.

Industry-Specific Metal Waste Trends

Metal’s unique properties make it a top material choice, yet the country generates metal waste comparable to 280,000 medium-sized cars sent to landfills annually! So, which sector is contributing to this massive metal tonnage? Let’s take a closer look at these industries.

Construction and Demolition Waste

The sector generates the least metal waste stream since metals are extremely valuable for the construction industry. 2021-22, Australia generated 55,000 tonnes of C&D waste, up 5% from the previous year (52,000 tonnes in 2018-19). A huge chunk of this originates from demolition rubbles sent to landfills.

E-waste and Consumer Electronics

Australian households and local council collections sent 394,000 tonnes of metal waste (MSW stream) in 2020-21. That’s a 30% increase compared to 2018-19 (271 kt), equivalent to 61,500 average-sized cars or a large sports stadium!

So, what’s propelling this enormous metal tonnage? Short lifecycles and equipment wear in bulky products like televisions, computing equipment, large appliances, and temperature exchange machines (e.g., ACs and heaters) have driven the country’s metal waste annually. 

The good news is that most of these consumer electronics reaching their end-of-life phases have high recovery rates, especially for televisions and computers. Besides robust recycling, manufacturers' measurable product design improvements are key to metal waste reduction.

Commercial and Industrial Waste

Australia generated roughly 289,000 tonnes of C&I waste sent to landfills in 2020-21, up by 20% in the preceding year (241 kt in 2018-19). Much of this figure stems from industrial processes such as smelting, refining, and manufacturing. Moreover, regular maintenance and upgrades due to regulatory industry compliance often lead to metal waste generation.

Metal Waste Disposal and Environmental Impact

Although Australia has an impressive metal recycling rate, not all metal junk is in its recycling and recovery facilities. As such, the country grapples with the environmental implications of metal waste disposal. Let’s take a closer look at these details.

Landfill Contribution of Metal Waste

Australia has consistently sent over 500,000 tonnes of metal waste to landfills in previous years. Here’s the detailed volume of metal junk landfilled each year: 

  • 2015: 601,000 tonnes
  • 2016: 566,000 tonnes
  • 2017: 561,000 tonnes
  • 2018: 548,000 tonnes
  • 2019: 565,000 tonnes
  • 2020: 739,000 tonnes 

These figures have slight differences, although the rate has increased tremendously in 2020-21. This was mainly due to the economic slowdown during the pandemic, which resulted in fewer recycling operations. Exceeding the 700 kt threshold is equivalent to 365,000 cars discarded annually!

Impact of Improper Metal Disposal

On a national scale, landfills have at least 24 million tonnes of accumulated metal junk. Some electronics even contain toxic (e.g., cadmium and cobalt) or precious (e.g., gold and palladium) components. Once these metals' toxic byproducts leach, they potentially pollute the soil and waterways.

Another impact of improper waste disposal is energy waste. For example, aluminium production is so energy-intensive that it requires 10% of the country’s electricity output. Yet recycling it only uses a fraction of that energy—and that’s only for a single metal type alone!

Benefits of Recycling Metals

Aside from recovering valuable resources, metal recycling has many benefits. One key advantage of recycling metals is substantially reducing carbon footprints. In other words, making new aluminium represents about 6.5% of the country’s greenhouse emissions.

So, recycling more aluminium and metals would cut Australia’s surging carbon emissions. This also reduces the need to extract raw materials, saving more resources and energy. To envision this scenario, multi-level initiatives should exist to slingshot the recycling rates in all states.

Trends in Metal Waste Reduction to Circular Economy

While Australia has only 223 metal recovery facilities, it remained consistent in recycling and reprocessing most metal waste in each state. Let’s take a glimpse at the trends in metal junk reduction in contributing to a circular economy.

Recycling Innovations in Australia

National programs like Cartridges 4 Planet Ark separated and recycled metals and other components from 573 tonnes of printer cartridges in 2020-21 alone. Meanwhile, drumMUSTER collected 1,775 containers in the same year, integrating recycled metals in wheelie bins, fence posts, and pipes.

While these programs have existed for decades, innovative solutions are emerging to bolster metal recycling. For example, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning allow accurate and swift metal sorting. On the other hand, new hydrometallurgical techniques efficiently recover valuable materials from e-waste and white goods.

Circular Economy and Sustainable Practices

Metal recycling has become an increasingly important source of metal supply. While producing new metals is resource-intensive, recycling ensures minimal losses and waste to attain a circular economy. However, the increasing demand for metal goods makes it difficult to close the loop.

For instance, a study revealed that the demand for new aluminium will double or triple by 2050. Such demands are likely to overwhelm the country’s recycling and recovery facilities. Sustainable practices and consumption are key to efficiently reducing metal junk.

Barriers to Effective Metal Waste Management

So, if metal recycling helps the country attain a circular economy, what’s stopping it? One key reason is the logistical issues in recycling initiatives. Transport costs are high in Australia due to the low population density and geographic dispersion. 

Most complex product design also makes metal recycling harder. Aside from economic and technological standpoints, consumer involvement is crucial in reducing metal waste. A UTS report highlighted that some Aussies are reluctant to use second-hand or recycled products.

Consumers demanding newer metal goods substantially catapult metal waste streams. Public education on effective recycling is crucial to reducing metal and other waste types. Addressing these barriers is key to lowering metal waste across states.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How much metal waste does Australia produce annually?

The latest stat revealed that Australia generated about 5.71 million tonnes of metal waste in 2020-21. That equates to a typical Aussie discarding 222kg of metal junk or two average refrigerators annually. About half of the total metal tonnage originates from C&I wastes, and a quarter each from MSW and C&D waste streams.

What are the most commonly recycled metals?

Some metals are often recycled due to their economic value and recyclability. One prime example is aluminium, which has an exceptionally high recycling rate. Steel is another widely recycled metal because of its extensive use in most industries. On the other hand, copper is often recovered for its electrical conductivity and durability. 

How do metal recycling rates differ by state?

NSW recycled about one-third of metal waste in 2020-21, followed by Victoria (30%) and Queensland (20%). High metal recycling rates are due to adequate recycling facilities and the high market value of recovered metals in the metropolitan areas. Meanwhile, remote regions have lower metal recycling rates due to insufficient infrastructure and transportation constraints.

What is the environmental impact of metal waste in landfills?

Some metal waste from electronics and appliances may contain cadmium, cobalt, and other toxic substances. Once these leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater, they pose severe risks to human health and ecosystems.

How can I dispose of scrap metal responsibly?

One way to dispose of scrap metal responsibly is to use professional collection services. Look for companies with a reputable record of responsible recycling practices, like All Gone Rubbish Removals.

You may also be interested in