Plastic Pollution Crisis: Australia's Landfills Overflowing

Australia's complicated relationship with plastic is a growing concern. Despite consistent efforts to increase recycling rates and reduce single-use packaging, plastic waste continues to be a significant issue. With the highest consumption of single-use plastic waste per capita, each Australian uses, on average, 60 kilograms of plastic annually. This contributes to the staggering 75.8 million tonnes of waste generated by the country in 2023, with over 20 million tonnes ending up in landfills. While some states, like South Australia, have higher resource recovery rates, the overall recycling recovery rate for plastic in Australia is low. The environmental impact of plastic waste is far-reaching, with approximately 130,000 tonnes of plastic leaking into Australia's marine environment each year.

Plastic consumption in Australia

Despite consistent efforts to increase recycling rates and reduce single-use packaging, plastic continues to have the lowest recycling recovery rates in Australia. The recovery rate describes the percentage of usable materials that have been recovered and recycled in relation to the total amount produced. While recycling rates for metal materials are the highest at 87%, followed by building materials (81%), paper and cardboard (62%), organics (58%), and glass (59%), plastic lags behind. South Australia has the highest resource recovery rate in the country at 80%, while the Northern Territory has the lowest at 19%.

The Australian government has recognised the need to address plastic waste and has implemented various plans and policies. These include the 2018 National Waste Policy, the 2019 National Waste Policy Action Plan, the Australian Packaging Covenant, and a goal to recycle or reuse 100% of plastic waste and end plastic pollution by 2040. The government has also invested $250 million in advanced recycling infrastructure and pledged to reduce waste disposed of in landfill sites by 80% by 2030.

However, current policies focus primarily on recovery and recycling rather than reducing plastic production and consumption. To effectively tackle plastic waste, more comprehensive policies that address these issues are necessary. This includes implementing strategies such as a plastics tax to cap or phase down plastic usage. By transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy, Australia can minimise waste and reduce the environmental impact of landfill, moving towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Plastic recycling rates

The low recycling rates for plastics in Australia are concerning, given the environmental impact of plastic waste. It is estimated that Australia adds 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste to its waterways and oceans annually, contributing to the global issue of plastic pollution. If waste management practices do not improve, the amount of plastic in the oceans could surpass the number of fish by 2050.

To address this issue, the Australian government has implemented various policies and initiatives. In 2023, the government pledged to invest $250 million in advanced recycling infrastructure, including $60 million specifically for hard-to-recycle soft plastics. The Victorian government has also committed $515 million towards recycling reforms and transformation between 2020 and 2030.

Additionally, the government has released several plans to reduce plastic waste, including the 2018 National Waste Policy, the 2019 National Waste Policy Action Plan, and the Australian Packaging Covenant. These plans aim for a circular economy, with a goal to recycle or reuse 100% of plastic waste and end plastic pollution by 2040. However, critics argue that these policies focus too heavily on recovery and recycling rather than reducing plastic production and consumption in the first place.

While Australia has the highest consumption of single-use plastic waste per capita, South Australia leads the country in resource recovery rates, standing at 80%. The state has implemented initiatives like the recycle-and-earn program and has pledged that zero avoidable waste will end up in landfills by 2030. The Northern Territory, on the other hand, has the lowest resource recovery rate at 19%.

Plastic waste in oceans

Australia generated 75.8 megatonnes of waste in 2023, with over 20 million tonnes of waste ending up in landfills each year. While it is unclear how much of this is plastic, Australia has the highest consumption of single-use plastic waste per capita, with each person using 60 kilograms of plastic on average per year. This is a pressing issue, as plastic waste in landfills has far-reaching environmental consequences. Decomposing organic waste in landfills releases methane, a greenhouse gas much more potent than carbon dioxide.

Furthermore, Australia adds 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste to its waterways and oceans annually. This plastic pollution in the ocean has detrimental effects on humans, animals, and the environment. It disrupts natural environmental cycles and wildlife ecosystems, fisheries, coastlines, tourism, and the food we eat. If plastic production and consumption continue to increase, the annual flow of plastic into the ocean could triple by 2040. By 2050, the amount of plastic in the oceans could even surpass the number of fish.

The issue of plastic waste in oceans extends beyond Australia's borders. Globally, there are currently 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting the oceans, with an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean each year. This plastic breaks down into microplastics, which are then ingested by marine organisms and enter the human food chain.

To address this pressing issue, a range of measures have been proposed, including reducing plastic consumption, promoting the use of compostable materials, designing recyclable products and packaging, increasing recycling rates, and properly disposing of non-recyclable plastics. Australia has taken steps towards this by investing in recycling facilities and infrastructure. However, more urgent action is needed to tackle plastic waste in oceans and prevent further environmental and economic impacts.

Government policies

The Australian government has implemented various policies and initiatives to address the issue of plastic waste ending up in landfills. Despite these efforts, plastic waste remains a significant challenge, with Australia's plastic consumption expected to more than double by 2050.

One key approach has been the promotion of a "circular economy," aiming to minimize waste and reduce the environmental impact of landfill. The National Waste Policy Action Plan, established in 2019, sets seven ambitious national waste targets, including increasing recycling rates and reducing landfill waste. The government has also regulated exports of recyclables like glass, plastics, and tyres to ensure they're processed into usable products, reducing environmental and health risks overseas.

To incentivize recycling, the government has invested $250 million in advanced recycling solutions, creating jobs and targeting hard-to-recycle plastics. Additionally, the government has committed to keeping over 600,000 tonnes of waste out of landfills, allocating $188.9 million to improve recycling outcomes and create 10,000 jobs. This investment supports domestic waste management, reduces environmental pressure, and fosters economic opportunities.

At the state level, South Australia stands out with an 80% resource recovery rate, the highest in the country. The state government has pledged that zero avoidable waste will end up in landfills by 2030, serving as a model for the rest of Australia. In contrast, the Northern Territory has the lowest recovery rate at 19%.

While the government has shown commitment through various policies and investments, there is a consensus that more effective policies are needed to reduce plastic production and consumption. This includes calls for policies capping or phasing down plastic use, such as a plastics tax, to complement the focus on recycling and recovery.

Plastic export

Australia has been working to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills. Despite consistent efforts to increase recycling rates and cut down on single-use packaging, plastics continue to have the lowest recycling recovery rates in the country. In 2018/19, Australia spent $17 billion on waste services, an 18% increase from the previous year.

In 2019, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced that the state, federal, and local governments had agreed to phase out the practice of exporting waste plastic and boost local recycling capacity. This came after China's announcement in 2017 that it would restrict imports of recycled materials, which at the time received about a third of Australia's recyclable plastic.

The Australian government has since invested $250 million in recycling facilities to tackle the problem of waste. The Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 (RAWR Act) and the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 regulate the export of plastic waste. The Waste Plastic Exports List was updated in December 2022 to allow these types of exports to be regulated solely under the Hazardous Waste Act and its associated regulations. Recycled plastic pellets can now be exported from Australia without a waste export licence. From July 2022, a licence is required to export waste plastics that have been sorted and processed into a form capable of remanufacture without further processing.

The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Michael Gunner, has encouraged viewing the waste as a "treasure opportunity", suggesting that waste plastic could be used in road construction.

Frequently asked questions