Omar Khalid
Australia's plastic recycling rate is notoriously low, with only about a third of plastic bottle waste being recycled. This means that approximately 373 million plastic bottles are thrown away each year, contributing to the country's significant plastic pollution problem. While plastic bags are the biggest commercial pollutants, plastic straws are also a major issue, with 7.5% of all recorded plastics being straws, making them the 12th most common item found by cleanup volunteers. Australia's plastic usage has increased by 200% in the last 20 years, and the country is facing challenges in managing its waste, with up to 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste inadequately handled, impacting the environment, marine life, and human health. However, there are efforts to improve recycling rates, such as the construction of a PET plastic recycling plant in New South Wales, which aims to reduce Australia's reliance on new and imported recycled plastics.
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What You'll Learn
Australia's plastic recycling rate
In 2019, the recycling rate of plastics across Australia was 11.5%, the highest of the presented financial years. The lowest rate was in the financial year 2018, which amounted to 9.4%.
The low recycling rate has a significant impact on the environment, with plastic bag waste lasting 20 to 1,000 years and easily travelling to pollute land, air, and water. It is estimated that 130,000 tonnes of plastics are leaked into the Australian marine environment every year.
However, there are some positive developments. In 2021, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) announced a $16.5 million investment in a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling facility in regional New South Wales. The plant will recycle the equivalent of an estimated one billion PET bottles a year, increasing Australia's capacity to recycle PET plastic by two-thirds.
Additionally, the Australian government implemented an export ban on sending mixed plastics overseas for recycling in 2019, taking more responsibility for its waste and developing the nation's circular economy.
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PET plastic bottles recycling
Australia's recycling rate for plastic bottles, including PET bottles, is low compared to the amount of plastic consumed in the country. According to sources, only about a third of plastic bottles are recycled, with approximately 373 million bottles ending up in landfills each year. This corresponds to a plastic bottle recycling rate of 36%.
The low recycling rate for PET bottles in Australia has significant economic and environmental implications. By failing to recycle PET and HDPE3 plastics, Australia is missing out on an estimated $419 million in potential economic value. Additionally, the country's marine environment suffers from plastic pollution, with around 130,000 tonnes of plastic leaking into it annually.
To address these issues, the Australian government has implemented several initiatives. In 2021, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) invested $16.5 million in a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling facility in regional New South Wales. This facility, known as Circular Plastics Australia (CPA), is expected to recycle one billion PET bottles annually and create long-term employment opportunities. The CPA facility is Australia's largest PET plastic recycling plant and only the second of its kind to process PET end-to-end into food-grade recycled PET.
Furthermore, the Council of Australian Governments established a timetable in 2019 to ban the export of waste plastic and develop high-value recycled commodities. This ban was agreed upon by federal, state, and local governments after China and Indonesia blocked waste imports from Australia and other nations. The recycled PET produced at the CPA facility will help meet the growing demand for green supply chains and reduce the need for fossil fuel-derived virgin PET production.
While these initiatives represent positive steps towards improving PET bottle recycling in Australia, the country still has a long way to go. The national plastics recycling rate is only 9%, and plastic consumption has increased by 200% in the last 20 years. With up to 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste inadequately handled, Australia needs to continue investing in its recycling infrastructure and promoting sustainable practices to reduce its environmental impact.
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Straws and plastic waste
Plastic straws are one of the most widely used and disposed-of plastic products. In Australia, approximately 10 million single-use plastic straws are used each day, or 3.5 billion annually. Straws are the 12th most common plastic item found by cleanup volunteers, accounting for 7.5% of all reported plastics.
Plastic straws are harmful to the environment because they are not biodegradable. As a result, they accumulate in ecosystems and habitats around the world, where they will remain for hundreds of years. Straws are particularly prone to ending up in waterways and oceans due to beach littering and wind. They can break down into smaller particles, releasing harmful chemicals into the soil, air, and water.
The issue of plastic straw waste is not unique to Australia. In the United States, it is estimated that 500 million straws are used each day, contributing to the 8 million tons of plastic that enter the ocean annually. Straws comprise just 0.025% of this waste, but they have become a major focus of environmental campaigns as they are an easy behaviour to change for most able-bodied people.
To reduce plastic straw waste, some companies have started manufacturing glass, metal, and paper straws as alternatives for environmentally conscious consumers. Governments and corporations are also considering eliminating or phasing out single-use plastic straws. Several cities and countries have already implemented bans on plastic straws, including Seattle, Miami Beach, Vancouver, Hawaii, California, Great Britain, and Taiwan.
While the recycling rate for plastic in Australia is generally low, estimated at less than 13%, the recycling of specific types of plastic containers is more significant. Australia recycles 36% of its PET plastic bottles, and the recycling rate for PET bottles and jars in the United States was 29.1% in 2018. However, recycling facilities often do not accept straws due to their small size, making it difficult to feed them into recycling machinery.
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Plastic bags usage
Plastic bags are one of the most common types of plastic waste in Australia, and their usage has significant environmental implications. According to the Australia Plastics Recycling Survey, Australians use around 5.65 billion single-use HDPE bags and 1.88 billion single-use produce bags annually. This high consumption of plastic bags contributes to the country's plastic pollution problem, with the use of HDPE bags alone adding 30,700 tonnes of plastic waste each year.
Plastic bags are made from chemicals and fossil fuels, and they do not break down naturally in the environment. Instead, they photo-degrade, fragmenting into microplastics and nanoplastic particles that contaminate water, food, and soil. These microplastics have even been detected in the human body and are consumed by marine life, transferring up the food chain to larger fish and mammals. Birds often mistake shredded plastic bags for food, filling their stomachs with toxic debris, and sea turtles struggle to distinguish between jellyfish and floating plastic bags.
The impact of plastic bags on the environment extends beyond pollution. Plastic bags can clog sewers, get caught in trees, and end up in bodies of water, necessitating costly clean-up operations. They can also harm livestock and crops when they blow onto grazing land or agricultural fields.
Despite the environmental concerns associated with plastic bags, they remain widely used in Australia. However, there is a growing movement towards reducing their consumption. Plastic bag bans have been successfully implemented in various countries, states, and cities, and these bans have proven effective in decreasing plastic bag pollution. For example, in San Mateo County, California, the number of local customers using reusable bags increased by 162% after a ban was imposed in 2013. Similarly, in Mountain View, California, the proportion of customers using single-use bags nearly tripled following a ban in 2012.
In Australia, the latest report indicates that less than 13% of plastic is recycled, including plastic bags. While this represents a promising increase from the 9.4% recycling rate in 2018, it still means that a significant amount of plastic waste is not being properly managed.
To address the environmental and health risks associated with plastic bags, individuals can play a crucial role by reducing their usage and switching to reusable bags. Reusable bags can be washed and dried to ensure their longevity and hygiene, making them a practical alternative to single-use plastic bags. Additionally, supporting initiatives and legislation aimed at reducing plastic bag consumption, such as the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, can contribute to a more sustainable future.
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Plastic waste in oceans
Plastic is one of the most long-lasting materials ever created, taking hundreds of years to degrade. It is the most common form of marine debris, with plastic waste making up 80% of all marine pollution. It is estimated that between one and two million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, with the possibility that plastic will outweigh fish in the sea by 2050.
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a global issue that requires worldwide cooperation. It is a problem that affects the entire planet and its inhabitants, threatening ocean health, the health of marine species, food safety and quality, human health, and coastal tourism, as well as contributing to climate change. The economic costs of plastic in the ocean are estimated to be between $6-19 billion USD annually, taking into account impacts on tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, and government cleanups.
The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering and improper disposal of plastic items such as food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, bottles, and single-use items like water bottles, takeout containers, and straws. These plastics enter the ocean through various pathways, such as streams and storm drains, and impact the ocean and surrounding ecosystems in numerous ways. Marine life can become entangled and killed in derelict fishing nets and other plastic debris, or they may ingest plastic debris, mistaking it for food.
While plastic waste is a global issue, it is important to note that most of the ocean plastics come from middle-income countries, particularly in Asia. This is due to poorer waste management infrastructure, with higher rates of mismanaged waste. Mismanaged waste refers to plastic that is not recycled, incinerated, or stored in sealed landfills. Improving waste management systems and implementing recycling practices can help prevent plastic waste from entering the oceans in the first place, along with reconsidering the design and usage of disposable packaging and reducing the manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics.
In Australia, the national recycling rate is 12.4%, with only 13.1% of plastic waste being recovered. Australia's plastic consumption has increased by 200% in the last 20 years, and approximately 130,000 tonnes of plastics are leaked into the Australian marine environment each year. Australia recycles only about a third of its PET plastic bottles, missing out on the opportunity to increase its economic worth by $419 million.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia's national recycling rate is 12.4%. However, only 13.1% of plastic waste is recovered, and the recycling rate for plastic is less than 13%. In 2019, the recycling rate of plastics across Australia was 11.5%, the highest it has been.
Australians consumed 3,461,700 tonnes of plastic in the 2019-20 financial year, a 200% increase over the last 20 years.
36% of PET plastic bottles are recycled in Australia, with 373 million bottles ending up in the trash each year.
In 2021, the CEFC invested $16.5 million in a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling facility in regional New South Wales. The facility will recycle one billion PET bottles a year and create long-term employment opportunities.
