Ethan Clarke
Australia's plastic recycling capabilities are hindered by fragmented policies and a lack of uniformity across states and territories, which leads to consumer confusion. While some plastics are easy to recycle and can be placed in most kerbside recycling bins, others like soft plastics and polystyrene need special handling. Soft plastics, such as plastic bags, bread bags, and plastic wrappers, can be recycled at special collection points like those found in some supermarkets. The recycling landscape in Australia has also changed dramatically since Asian countries like China, Malaysia, Thailand, and India cut down on the amount of low-grade recyclable material they accept. This has left Australia with limited options, such as finding alternative buyers domestically, stockpiling recyclables, or sending them to developing nations in Southeast Asia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of plastic packaging recycled | 18% (2023), 16% (2021) |
| National target for recycling plastic packaging by 2025 | 70% |
| Expected recycling level by 2025 | 94% |
| Percentage of plastic waste kept out of landfill | 14% |
| Percentage of plastic waste recovered through recycling, composting, or energy recovery | 15% |
| Amount of plastic consumed in Australia by 2050 | Double the current amount |
| Amount of plastic consumed in Australia in 2018-2019 | 3.4 million tonnes |
| Percentage of Australia's annual plastic consumption that is single-use plastic | 29% |
| Percentage of plastic sent to landfill | 84% |
| Percentage of plastic recycled | 13% |
| Amount of plastic leaking into the marine environment in Australia annually | 130,000 tonnes |
| Amount of plastic packaging placed on the Australian market in 2021 | 1.1 million tonnes |
| Amount of plastic packaging recovered in 2021 | 179,000 tonnes |
| Percentage of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging | 3% |
| Amount of plastic waste exported from Australia to China and Hong Kong by July 2018 | Reduced by 90% |
| Percentage of plastic waste exported from Australia that goes to Southeast Asian countries | 80-87% |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's exported plastic waste
Australia has a chequered history with its exported plastic waste. In 2019, a five-year ban was introduced on waste exports, in response to China and Southeast Asian countries exposing waste dumping. However, in 2023, the Australian Environment Minister quietly reopened plastic waste exports. This decision has been criticised as regressive and a failure to address the plastic waste crisis.
In March 2020, the Australian, state and territory governments, and the Australian Local Government Association, agreed that the export of waste glass, plastic, tyres and paper would be regulated by the Australian Government. The Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 (the RaWR Act) regulates the export of plastic waste, alongside the Hazardous Waste Act (Regulation of Exports and Imports) 1989, which implements Australia's obligations under the Basel Convention.
The Waste Plastic Exports List was updated in December 2022, allowing exports of waste plastic to be regulated solely under the Hazardous Waste Act and its associated regulations. Recycled plastic pellets are also no longer considered "regulated waste plastic" and can be exported without a waste export licence.
Australia's plastic waste exports to Asia have increased significantly, with 100,000 tonnes shipped overseas in 2024. This is despite the EU's decision to ban plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries, which has led to a 45% increase in exports to Asia in 2023. The top destinations for these exports are Malaysia and Vietnam.
There are concerns that Australia's exported waste is not fully recycled by the importing countries, and that the waste ends up in landfill. This is due to a lack of data and understanding about the fate of exported waste. Australia's decision to scrap the levy on waste exports is also criticised as a step in the wrong direction, as it will likely lead to more plastic waste ending up in landfills.
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Plastic recycling codes
The recycling codes are not a guarantee that an item can be recycled, and not all plastics are created equally. Many are challenging to recycle. The onus is on the consumer to understand these numbers and properly sort their recyclables.
The following provides an overview of the seven different plastic codes and what they mean:
- Recycling code 1 is the most common and easiest to recycle due to its lightweight and transparent properties. It is often found on beverage containers, such as water bottles, soft drink bottles, and vegetable oil containers.
- Recycling code 2 is often found on Biogone's small landfill-biodegradable dog poop bags. The rigid plastic form can be recycled through kerbside recycling bins, while the soft plastic form cannot.
- Recycling code 3 is used for PVC, which is challenging to recycle, so most councils do not accept items with this code in kerbside collections.
- Recycling code 4 is often found on plastic bags, which cannot be recycled through kerbside recycling bins.
- Recycling codes 1, 2, and 5 are generally safe to recycle and are accepted by most councils.
- Recycling code 6 is for expanded polystyrene foam, which cannot be recycled through kerbside recycling bins.
- Recycling code 7 is also challenging to recycle and is not accepted by most councils.
In Australia, the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) is being introduced to provide greater clarity for consumers about what packaging can be recycled.
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Plastic waste reduction
Plastic waste is a pressing issue in Australia. Australians consume about 3.5 million tonnes of plastic annually, which is more than three times the global average. Unfortunately, a significant amount of this plastic ends up in landfills or pollutes the environment, with approximately 130,000 tonnes leaking into marine environments.
To reduce plastic waste in Australia, several measures can be implemented:
- Encourage the use of recycled plastics in manufacturing: Recycled plastics can be used repeatedly, and utilising them can reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing processes. However, there is currently little demand for recycled plastics in Australia, and it is often cheaper for manufacturers to use virgin plastic. To address this, the Australian government could provide incentives or subsidies for businesses that incorporate recycled plastics into their products.
- Develop sustainable markets for recycled plastic products: Australia needs to develop large-scale, sustainable markets for recycled plastic goods. This can be achieved by investing in the necessary technology and infrastructure to process and repurpose plastic waste effectively. Additionally, implementing policies that promote the use of recycled materials over virgin plastics can help stimulate demand.
- Improve waste collection and resource recovery systems: Australia's waste collection and resource recovery industry is fragmented, with varying legislative requirements across states and territories. Standardising recycling practices and ensuring proper processing of recyclable materials can help streamline the system. This includes investing in Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to sort, compact, and bale recyclable plastics for sale.
- Reduce the production and consumption of single-use plastics: Single-use plastics are a significant contributor to plastic waste. Australia should focus on reducing the production and consumption of these items by implementing policies such as a plastics tax or caps on plastic usage. Encouraging the use of reusable alternatives, such as banning single-use plastic bags and promoting reusable coffee cups, can also help curb plastic waste.
- Promote recycling and proper waste disposal: Educating the public about responsible waste disposal and the importance of recycling is crucial. Australians should be encouraged to separate their recyclables and utilise services like container deposit schemes and soft plastic recycling programs, such as REDCycle.
- Address plastic waste exports: Australia has historically exported a large portion of its recyclable plastic waste to countries in Southeast Asia. However, these countries are now restricting plastic imports due to environmental and labour concerns. Australia needs to develop its domestic capacity for recycling and ensure that any exported plastics are clean, uncontaminated, and processed responsibly.
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Plastic recycling challenges
Plastic recycling in Australia faces several challenges that hinder its effectiveness and sustainability. Firstly, there is a lack of infrastructure and markets for recycled plastic products within the country. This has led to a reliance on exporting recyclable materials to other countries, particularly in Asia, which has proven to be problematic due to import restrictions and environmental concerns.
Since China stopped accepting Australian recyclable plastic, developing nations in Southeast Asia have become the primary destination for Australia's exported plastic waste. However, these countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, have begun restricting or revoking import permits due to serious environmental and labour issues associated with plastic recycling processes. For instance, in Vietnam, imported plastic is often sold to "craft villages," where it is processed informally, leading to excessive water and energy consumption and smoke production. This raises ethical questions about whether Australia should continue sending its recyclables to countries that lack the capacity to process them safely.
Another challenge is the fragmented nature of Australia's waste collection and resource recovery industry. Legislative requirements vary across states and territories, with some councils processing recycled material themselves, while others depend on contractors. This inconsistency can lead to confusion and inefficiency in the recycling process. Additionally, there is a lack of financial incentive for manufacturers to use recycled materials, as virgin plastic is often cheaper. This hinders the development of a circular economy, where resources are reused and recycled to minimize waste.
Furthermore, soft plastics, such as single-use plastic bags, pose a significant challenge to the recycling process due to their chemical composition and low melting point. They require specialized recycling facilities and are often contaminated with food, making them difficult to process. The collapse of REDcycle, one of Australia's prominent soft plastic recyclers, in 2021, led to the discovery of massive stockpiles of unrecycled plastics. This highlights the need for improved infrastructure and innovation in the waste recycling industry, particularly for soft plastics.
To address these challenges, Australia has implemented initiatives such as the National Waste Policy and the Recycling Waste and Reduction Act 2020, which banned the export of several waste streams, including plastics. The government has also created a $250 million recycling modernization fund to foster innovation and improve local recycling infrastructure. However, more comprehensive action plans and funding streams and cross-sectoral cooperation are needed to achieve a sustainable circular economy for plastic waste management in Australia.
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Plastic recycling solutions
Education and Awareness
Educating the public about the importance of recycling and how to do it properly is essential. This includes teaching people to check the Plastic Identification Codes or recycling codes, rinsing and cleaning containers, and separating different types of plastics correctly. Schools, community groups, and local councils can play a vital role in spreading this message. Understanding these codes is crucial, as some plastics are more prone to degradation and may not be suitable for continuous recycling. Additionally, rinsing and cleaning containers reduce the risk of contamination and prevent residue build-up, making the recycling process more effective.
Incentivizing Recycling and Penalizing Single-Use Plastics
Government intervention is crucial in shaping a sustainable future. Policies that incentivize the use of recycled materials, penalize single-use plastics, and provide funding for research into new recycling technologies can make a significant difference. Australia could benefit from adopting national standards for recycling, similar to those in the European Union, to create a more unified and efficient recycling system.
Improving Domestic Recycling Capacity
There is a need to increase Australia's domestic capacity for recycling and reduce its reliance on exporting recyclables to other countries, especially those that lack the infrastructure to process them safely. This includes investing in new processing technologies, enhancing supply chains, and improving worker skills and training in the recycling industry.
Supporting Businesses Using Recycled Materials
As consumers, we can make a difference by choosing to buy products made from recycled plastics and supporting businesses that use recycled materials. This creates a market for recycled products and encourages manufacturers to incorporate recycled content into their goods.
Reusing and Composting
Reusing plastic bags and other single-use plastic items can help minimize waste. Composting compostable plastics is another eco-friendly alternative to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
By implementing these strategies and working together, Australia can improve its plastic recycling system, reduce waste, and protect the environment.
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Frequently asked questions
After plastics are recycled in Australia, they are often exported to developing nations in Southeast Asia for further processing. However, due to environmental and labour issues, these countries have started to restrict plastic imports. Australia is now facing the challenge of developing its domestic capacity for recycling and finding alternative solutions.
Plastic recycling in Australia faces several challenges, including fragmented policies, lack of infrastructure, and consumer confusion about recycling codes and practices. There is a pressing need for consistent and integrated recycling practices across the country, as well as incentives for manufacturers to use recycled materials.
Individuals can play a significant role in improving plastic recycling in Australia by properly rinsing and cleaning recyclables, separating them correctly according to recycling codes, and supporting products made from recycled materials. Educating oneself and others about the importance of recycling and proper techniques is also crucial.
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