Recyclers call on government to recognise recycling

Recycling is effectively taking 1.8 million passenger cars off the road each year in reducing the nation’s greenhouse liability, according to chief executive of the Australian Council of Recyclers (ACOR), Anne Prince.

“Recycling saves on emissions that would have been used if products had been manufactured from raw materials. The abatement of emissions through recycling, at 8.8 million tons of CO₂, is around 30% of the Australian Greenhouse Office’s latest estimates of total abatement measures of 30 million tons of CO₂," Prince said.

“Landfill emissions from the waste sector is slated for coverage in the Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Greenpaper but there is no reward, recognition or accounting for the major contribution of recycling”.

Prince announced the results of a major study into the benefits of recycling, 'Australian Recycling values — a net benefits assessment', which shows that the recycling industry had a direct turnover in 2006 of $11.5 billion, with a 'knock-on' effect to jobs and industry of $55 billion.

The report also claims that each year recycling:

• Provides major energy savings equivalent to the average electricity consumption in 2.1 million households;
• Enables water savings equivalent to more than 37,000 olympic pools;
• Conserves natural resources including bauxite, iron ore, sand, oil for plastic production and timber equivalent to 8.8 million tons;
• Aluminium accounts for well over 50% of the greenhouse savings with the emissions abatement equal to taking more than 1 million cars off the road;
• Steel and aluminium account for 78% of the energy savings.

ACOR’s members recycle aluminium, paper and cardboard, glass, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, concrete and plastic. They reported total recovery of 9 million tons of material in 2006 with only 5% ending up in landfill after processing.