More than 1.8 million tonnes of waste in Western Australia was recycled during 2008-09 according to the state government's Waste Authority.
More than 1.8 million tonnes of waste in Western Australia was recycled during 2008-09 according to the state government's Waste Authority.
The Authority's Recycling Activity in WA 2007-08 and 2008-09 found this figure was up 100,000 tonnes since 2006-07.
The total value of the recycling was $1.74 billion.
86 per cent or 1.58 million tonnes of recycling was done in the metro area and 66 per cent of material recovered in WA was processed here.
31 per cent was exported overseas and just 3 per cent was transferred interstate.
The reports shows that West Australian's recycle 839 kilograms per capita.
"This latest report encourages Western Australians to build on these improvements and to close the gap with other states performance", said Mrs Jan Grimoldby, acting chairperson of the Waste Authority.
"Improved waste management and increased recycling is critical to both the cost of infrastructure and the impact on our shared environment", she said.
See statement from the Waste Authority below:
The annual review of Western Australia's recycling performance shows some improvement in the states recycling rates, with indications the trend will continue.
The Recycling Activity in WA 2007/08 and 2008/09 report reveals that:
- 1.83 million tonnes was recycled in 2008/09 (up by 100,000 tonnes since 2006/07)
- Per capita, WA achieves a recycling rate of 839 kilograms
- Of the 3 waste streams - Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Commercial and Industrial (C&I) and Construction and Demolition (C&D), C&D accounts for the majority of material recovered by weight
- 1.58 million tonnes was recycled in the metro area (86% of the state's total recycling effort)
- In the metro area, the per capita waste output is 3.28 tonnes or about the weight of 3 cars and of that, 1.1 tonnes is recycled or about one third
- 66% of all material recovered in WA was re-processed here, whilst 31% was exported overseas and only 3% transferred interstate
- With the new Colmax glass re-processing plant coming on stream later this year, a significant amount of glass will be diverted from landfill (40,000 tonnes per annum) which will positively influence the recycling rates for WA
- The strong advances made with many of the projects funded under the Strategic Waste Initiatives Scheme and the increase in the urban landfill levy earlier this year are all mechanisms aimed at increasing recycling rates
- Employment within the reprocessing industry is both direct and indirect and is estimated at 1,914 direct and 4,775 indirect employees
- Based on the turnover of reprocessing in Australia of $950/tonne, the total re-processing activity reported for WA is estimated at $1.74 billion.
The report is part of a regime of continuous measurement of recycling rates in Western Australia. "This latest report encourages Western Australians to build on these improvements and to close the gap with other states performance", said Mrs Jan Grimoldby, Acting Chairperson of the Waste Authority. "Improved waste management and increased recycling is critical to both the cost of infrastructure and the impact on our shared environment", she said.
The full report is available on the Waste Authority website at WA Recycling
2008/2009 and a fact sheet at Fact Sheets. Jan is available for interviews.
