An independent report has found that during 2010-11 Australians continued to value and recycle plastics at a consistently strong rate with a total of 287,360 tonnes of plastic products diverted from landfill.
PACIA Chief Executive, Margaret Donnan, said “the survey shows that more and more Australians recognise that plastic is too valuable to waste and that it can be put to good use rather than throwing it away.”
The Survey found the amount of plastic manufactured and consumed by Australians was 1,433,046 tonnes, down slightly from 1,501,258 tonnes in 2009-10. This is likely attributed to factors such as better design and light weighing of plastics products, as well as slowing economic conditions. Lightweighting enables a product to perform the same function but uses less material and energy, which is a key environmental contribution particularly for transport applications and reduction of CO2 emissions.
The survey covers both packaging and durable uses, delineating between the purposes and life spans of different plastic product types. For packaging (protective covering of food, beverages and goods) the survey reported 199,812 tonnes were recycled - an increased rate of 37.5% up from 34.8% in 2009-10. For longer-life plastics (such as rainwater tanks and car parts) 87,548 tonnes were recycled – a slightly reduced rate of 9.7% from 9.8% in 2009-10.
The consistently, strong tonnage and increased rate in plastics recycling can be attributed to improvements in consumer education, collection systems taking a wider range of plastic types from a growing number of locations, recycling investments and market development. The achievements of the Australian Packaging Covenant are also key drivers to the improved packaging results.
It is important to note these results are delivered with only mechanical recycling available in Australia. Europe for example complements its own 24% mechanical recycling rate with an additional 34% of energy recovery related landfill diversion – a total of 58%. To continue making the best use of this valuable resource into the future, Australia can make better use of recovery technologies such as energy recovery and composting systems.
Ms. Donnan said “the positive results are testament to the success of strong partnerships between industry, government and the community; working together and improving the design, use and recovery of plastics for a second life”.
“PACIA values initiatives such as the Australian Packaging Covenant, the National Waste Policy and state and local programs that inform and drive further improvements in design, education, collection systems and recovery technology investments. These are good for the Australian environment, community and business.”
“We particularly appreciate the commitment of our funding partners, PACIA members and the broader plastics and recycling industry in providing data and identifying important areas for improvement”
Background:
The Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA) commissioned independent consultants, Sustainable Resource Use, to carry out the annual PACIA National Plastics Recycling Survey in 2011.
The survey received funding support from:
- Sustainability Victoria
- Department of Environment and Climate Change (New South Wales)
- Department of the Environment and Resource Management (Queensland)
- Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia)
- Zero Waste South Australia
- Australian Packaging Covenant.
The survey, the eleventh in the current series and the principal source of recycling data for the whole Australian plastics sector, gathered data for the 2010-11 financial year on the consumption, recovery, reprocessing and applications for used plastics in Australia.
Key statistics and facts:
- A total of 1,433,046 tonnes of plastics were consumed in Australia in 2010-11. This is a reduction in consumption of 4.5% from 2009-10.
- A total of 287,360 tonnes of plastics were recycled in 2010–11. This was a very slight decrease of 0.3% from 2009–10.
- In 2010–11 overall plastics recycling rate was 20.1%, an increase of 0.9% from 2009–10.
- The quantity of plastic packaging recycled in 2010–11 was 199,812 tonnes, giving a packaging recycling rate of 37.5%, compared with 34.8% in 2009–10.
- The quantity of durable plastics recycling in 2010–11 was 87,548 tonnes, giving a durable plastics recycling rate of 9.7%, compared with 9.8% in 2009–10.
- Of the 287,360 tonnes of plastics collected for recycling, 144,266 tonnes (50.2%) was reprocessed in Australia and 143,094 tonnes (49.8%) was exported for reprocessing. The proportion of plastics reprocessed in Australia has decreased from 74.0% in 2000 (calendar year), to 50.2% in 2010–11.
- The majority of plastics that were reprocessed in Australia continue to be used locally to manufacture new products, mainly durable (non-packaging) products.
Plastics data was obtained from a combination of sources with a very high 91% response rate:
- Australian resin producers
- Resin importers
- Australian Customs Service (ACS) data
- Australian plastics reprocessors.
Media enquiries: John Osborn, Director Marketing & Communications, (03) 9611 5409 / 0417 997 774