Plastic Waste In Australia: An Annual Crisis

Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, with an estimated 1 to 2 million tons of plastic entering our oceans each year. While plastic has added value to various aspects of human life, its mismanagement, including the lack of recycling and proper disposal, poses significant environmental concerns. Australia, in particular, faces a significant challenge with single-use plastic waste, with each person using, on average, 45 plastic produce bags, 50 plastic straws, and numerous plastic cups annually. The country's overall consumption of plastic products is substantial, and it is imperative to explore effective policies and alternatives to reduce plastic waste and mitigate its environmental impact.

Single-use plastic waste per capita

Australia has one of the worst rankings when it comes to single-use plastic waste per capita. In 2019, the average Australian generated 59 kg of single-use plastic waste, including bottles, packaging, and other plastic waste. This is significantly higher than the global average of 15 kg per person. The country's high plastic waste generation has severe environmental consequences, with an estimated 130,000 tonnes of plastic leaking into Australia's marine environment each year. This plastic pollution endangers marine life, with approximately 40% of turtles admitted to wildlife shelters suffering from plastic-related injuries.

To address this issue, several Australian states have implemented bans on single-use plastic items. Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales have all introduced bans on single-use plastic bags, contributing to a 90% reduction in their consumption since 2016-17. Additionally, New South Wales has prohibited the sale of specific single-use plastic products, including plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, and expanded polystyrene food and drink containers. These bans are essential steps towards reducing Australia's significant contribution to single-use plastic waste per capita.

However, despite these efforts, Australia's plastic waste problem persists. In 2022, the country was still ranked as one of the worst offenders for single-use plastic waste generation per capita. Research from the Minderoo Foundation revealed that Australians produce about 60 kilograms of single-use plastic waste annually, surpassing other countries. This issue is further exacerbated by the revelation that one of the country's leading soft plastic recycling schemes had been secretly stockpiling, rather than recycling, hundreds of millions of bags and other soft plastic items.

To effectively tackle Australia's single-use plastic waste crisis, a comprehensive approach is necessary. While bans on specific single-use plastic items are a step in the right direction, more stringent measures and guidelines are required to reduce plastic consumption and waste generation. This includes making packaging targets compulsory and accelerating waste minimization and recycling initiatives. By prioritizing reduction and reuse, Australia can make significant progress in addressing its high single-use plastic waste per capita and mitigating the environmental impact on its fragile marine ecosystems.

Plastic waste in marine environments

The impact of plastic waste on marine animals in Australia is evident in wildlife shelters, where about 40% of turtles are injured by plastic, and seabirds and terrestrial animals also suffer from ingestion or entanglement. The plastic ingested by these animals can include ribbons from balloons, hard plastics, soft plastics, and even biodegradable plastic bags, which, according to one expert, "don't break down in the ocean." This plastic waste in the marine environment is estimated to come largely from land, washed into the ocean through waterways.

To address the issue of plastic waste in marine environments, Australia has implemented bans on single-use plastic items in several states and territories. These bans have targeted items such as plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, expanded polystyrene food and drink containers, and cotton bud sticks. Additionally, the country has shifted from a linear 'take-make-dispose-of' economy to a more circular economy approach, focusing on policies that align with the 4R framework: Reduce, Recycle or Reuse, and Recover.

Despite these efforts, plastic waste in marine environments remains a significant concern. The accumulation of plastic in ocean basins is due to the unique characteristics of plastics, such as their long shelf life and potential for easy transportation by water currents and wind. Furthermore, plastic food service items and trash bags, made of polystyrene and polyethylene, contribute to the issue, along with plastic resins used in containers, bags, sacks, wraps, and lids.

To further mitigate the problem of plastic waste in marine environments, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This includes implementing effective national-level initiatives, such as the prohibition of plastic bag usage, applying charges or taxes, and prioritizing site-specific management needs. Additionally, addressing the issue at the source is crucial, which involves investigating the toxic risks of plastics in seafood and taking actions to keep plastic out of the oceans.

Plastic waste recovery methods

The amount of plastic used and discarded in Australia each year is significant, with about 3.4 million tonnes of plastic products consumed in 2019-2020. Australians generate more single-use plastic waste per capita than any other country, with about 60 kilograms of single-use plastic waste generated per person annually. This contributes to the global issue of plastic pollution, with an estimated 10 million tonnes of plastic dumped into our oceans annually.

To address the problem of plastic waste, various recovery methods are employed, including:

Recycling

Recycling is considered the best option for minimizing the impact of plastic waste. It involves the collection, sorting, washing, and reprocessing of plastic materials to create new products. While recycling can reduce waste and CO2 emissions, it also presents technical and economic challenges, such as identification, segregation, and the recovery of value. The recycling of specific plastic containers, like PET bottles and HDPE natural bottles, has achieved higher rates compared to overall plastic recycling rates.

Incineration

Incineration, or waste incineration, is the process of turning plastic waste into ash, flue gas, and heat. It requires little space and the heat generated can be used for energy recovery, such as generating electricity. However, incineration can also release air pollutants, including carcinogens like dioxin, furan, and toxic metals, if not properly managed.

Landfill

Landfill is a common method for disposing of solid waste, where plastic waste is buried beneath the Earth's surface. However, it is associated with severe environmental issues, including habitat disruption, diseases among nearby residents, soil stress, aquifer contamination, and air pollution from odor release.

Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is a chemical recycling process that converts plastic waste into a petroleum-like substance or liquid and gaseous fuels. It is considered a waste-to-wealth system that can contribute to a greener and more sustainable environment while also addressing energy demands.

Direct Incineration

Direct incineration is another method of plastic waste recovery, where plastics are burned to provide energy for power.

Energy Recovery

Energy recovery methods aim to utilize the energy from plastic waste, such as through waste-to-oil processes, to address both waste disposal and energy generation.

Government policies to reduce plastic waste

Australia has been called a "'global offender" when it comes to single-use plastic waste, with Australians generating more single-use plastic waste per capita than any other country in the world. On average, each person in Australia uses 45 plastic produce bags, 50 plastic straws, about 70 plastic cups for hot liquids, and 35 for cold. Single-use plastics make up about a third of the litter on the street, and about 30% of plastic waste in Australia.

Despite government policies aimed at creating a "circular economy", only 14% of plastic waste is kept out of landfills in Australia. The Australian government has released several plans aimed at reducing plastic waste, including 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. However, these policies primarily focus on recovery and recycling rather than reducing plastic production and consumption.

• Extended producer responsibility schemes: These schemes require the producers of products that contribute to plastic waste, such as cigarettes with filters, to cover the costs of waste management and clean-up. For example, mandatory labelling can highlight the negative environmental impact of cigarettes with plastic filters, encouraging consumers to make more sustainable choices.
• Ban on single-use plastics: Australia can follow the lead of other states/countries like Western Australia, South Australia, California, and France, by implementing comprehensive bans on specific single-use plastic items. For instance, plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, expanded polystyrene food and drink containers, and cotton bud sticks.
• Microbead ban: Australia can encourage companies to replace plastic microbeads with natural alternatives, such as apricot kernels, cornmeal, ground pumice, silica, or walnut shells. This will reduce the amount of microplastic pollution in the environment.
• Washing machine filters: The government can promote the use of microfibre filters in washing machines, which can significantly reduce the amount of microplastic pollution released into the environment during laundry.
• Recycling and reuse initiatives: While recycling plastic can be inefficient and expensive, the government can still encourage and support initiatives that focus on recycling and reusing plastic waste. For example, Planet Protector Packaging offers recyclable and compostable insulated packaging made from sheep waste wool. Additionally, New Zealand's BioFab uses mushroom packaging (MycoCompostite) as a creative replacement for polystyrene, which can be composted at home and then used as fertilizer.
• Plastic tax: Implementing a tax on plastic products can incentivize consumers to reduce their plastic consumption and encourage the development and adoption of more sustainable alternatives.
• Education and awareness: The government can play a crucial role in educating the public about the impact of plastic waste on the environment and promoting sustainable alternatives. This can include supporting organizations like the Boomerang Alliance, which works on waste minimization and recycling, and the WWF-Australia, which provides practical solutions and research for reducing reliance on single-use plastics.

Plastic waste in landfills

Plastic waste is a pressing issue in Australia, with the country being one of the biggest consumers of single-use plastic per person globally. In 2021, Australia's plastic consumption was 147kg per person, a significant increase from 123kg in 2010. The country's beautiful coastlines and waters are under threat from an increasingly urgent waste crisis.

Australians generate more single-use plastic waste per capita than any other country, about 60 kilograms a year, according to the Minderoo Foundation. This is in contrast to the global average of about 15 kilograms a year. Single-use plastic products are designed to be used once before being discarded, and they contribute significantly to landfill waste. They are also a major source of litter on streets and in parks, as well as polluting oceans and endangering marine wildlife.

In 2019-20, more than 3.4 million tonnes of plastic products were consumed in Australia, with about 30% being single-use plastics. This amounts to each person in Australia using, on average, 45 plastic produce bags, 50 plastic straws, about 70 plastic cups for hot liquids, and 35 for cold annually. While government policies aim for a 'circular economy', only 14% of plastic waste is kept out of landfills in Australia.

To address the issue of plastic waste in landfills, Australia has implemented several plans, including 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. However, these policies primarily focus on recovery and recycling rather than reducing plastic production and consumption.

The War on Waste campaign highlighted the contribution of fast fashion to landfill waste, leading supermarkets to replace single-use plastic bags with thicker reusable bags. Additionally, organizations like ReSource are working to solve the e-plastics and soft plastics problem, and programs like Planet Ark's Recycling Nearby and Paintback empower people to recycle materials. While these initiatives are commendable, more effective policies and actions are needed to reduce plastic consumption and address the pressing issue of plastic waste in Australian landfills.

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