Australia's recycling rates breaking records, says APC report

The Australian Packaging Covenant (APC), a voluntary scheme aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of consumer packaging and litter from packaging, has released its 2013 annual report. The report finds that recycling rates in Australia have broken new records.

The overall recycling rate for post-consumer packaging in Australia sits at 64.2%, a 65% jump from the 39% baseline established in 2003. The recycling rate for recovered fibre packaging, such as cardboard products, has also increased to a record high of 78%. With a 128% increase in recycling tonnes since 2003, glass is the most improved material type when it comes to recycling rates followed by plastics (73%) and paper/cardboard (70%).

The APC attributed collaborative product stewardship actions for the considerable improvement in the recycling rate from the 2003 baseline, with general manager Vanio Calgaro saying the data from the report is “further evidence that the current approach to increasing recycling and reducing litter is working”.

“Through a reduction in materials used in packaging and an effective kerbside collection scheme, since 1999 we have reduced litter by 31% in volume, 20% by item, and increased recycling rates by more than 60% since 2003,” he said.

Since 2005, the APC has contributed $33 million towards the funding of 165 projects with a total project value of over $140 million. APC projects have accounted for an estimated 32.4% of the overall increase in recycling tonnes from 2005-12 and have played a critical part in contributing to the increase in recycling rates and the diversion of packaging from landfill.

Calgaro said the covenant is targeting a 70% recycling rate by 2015.