Waste Management in Australia: Complete Guide 2025

Australia's waste management sector is undergoing significant transformation as the nation works toward ambitious circular economy goals. With 75.8 million tonnes of waste generated annually, a 66% recovery rate, and a target to double the circularity rate from 4.3% to 8.6% by 2035, understanding Australia's waste landscape is essential for businesses, councils, and residents.

This comprehensive guide covers everything about waste management in Australia in 2025.

Australian Waste Management Industry Overview

Market Size and Performance

The Australian waste management sector is substantial and growing:

• Total waste generation: 75.8 million tonnes per year (2020-21 data)
• Market value: AUD $15-18 billion annually
• Waste per capita: 2.95 tonnes per person (one of highest globally)
• Recovery rate: 66% (recycling, energy recovery, reuse)
• Landfill rate: 34% (declining but still significant)
• Circularity rate: 4.3% (target: double by 2035)

Major Industry Players

Australia's waste management market features both domestic and international operators:

National Operators:

1. Cleanaway Waste Management - Australia's largest integrated waste company
2. Veolia Australia & New Zealand - Major international player
3. Suez (now part of Veolia) - Collection, processing, recycling
4. Remondis Australia - German-owned, significant presence
5. JJ's Waste & Recycling - Family-owned, Queensland-based

Regional and Specialized: 6. Bingo Industries - NSW focus, innovation leader 7. Solo Resource Recovery - Victorian operations 8. Toxfree (now part of Cleanaway) - Hazardous waste specialist 9. ResourceCo - Resource recovery and recycling 10. Local council services - Significant public sector involvement

Waste Stream Breakdown

By Source:

• Masonry materials (construction): 27 million tonnes (36%)
• Organics (food, garden): 14.4 million tonnes (19%)
• Metals: 9.4 million tonnes (12%)
• Paper and cardboard: 5.6 million tonnes (7%)
• Plastics: 2.9 million tonnes (4%)
• Glass: 1.4 million tonnes (2%)
• Other materials: 15.1 million tonnes (20%)

By Sector:

• Construction & demolition: 38% (largest contributor)
• Municipal solid waste: 14% (households)
• Commercial & industrial: 39%
• Hazardous waste: 1%

National Waste Policy and Regulations

National Waste Policy 2018

Vision and Targets:

Australia's National Waste Policy sets out an ambitious vision:

Key Targets for 2030:

• 80% average recovery rate across all waste streams
• 10% reduction in total waste generated per capita
• Phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics
• Significantly increase use of recycled content
• Halve organic waste to landfill

Priority Recovery Targets:

• Paper/cardboard: 85% recovery rate
• Glass: 80% recovery rate
• Plastics: 70% recovery rate
• Tyres: 90% recovery rate
• Metals: 85% recovery rate

National Circular Economy Strategy

Transformational Goals (2035):

Launched in 2024, the strategy aims to:

• Double circularity rate from 4.3% to 8.6% by 2035
• Keep materials in productive use longer
• Design out waste from the start
• Create 37,000 new jobs
• Generate $3.9 billion in economic opportunity

Five Focus Areas:

1. Built environment - Construction materials circularity
2. Plastics - Eliminate problematic plastics, increase recycling
3. Organics - Food waste reduction, better processing
4. Glass - Higher recovery and domestic reprocessing
5. Tyres - Circular economy for end-of-life tyres

Federal Regulations

Product Stewardship Act 2011:

• Framework for Extended Producer Responsibility
• Voluntary, co-regulatory, and mandatory schemes
• Currently covers TVs, computers, tyres, batteries

Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020:

• Waste export controls (phased ban on plastic, paper, glass, tyres)
• Product stewardship expansion
• Investment in domestic recycling capacity
• Mandates Commonwealth procurement of recycled content

Export Ban Timeline:

• Waste plastic: Banned from July 2021
• Mixed/unsorted paper: Banned from July 2021
• Glass: Banned from January 2022
• Tyres: Banned from December 2021
• Mixed/unsorted waste: Subject to controls

State and Territory Waste Management

New South Wales

Key Policies:

• Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041
• Target: 80% waste diversion by 2030
• Container deposit scheme (Return and Earn)
• Waste levy: $153.80/tonne metro, lower in regions

Major Initiatives:

• Food waste collection rollout
• Single-use plastics ban (implemented 2022)
• Organics infrastructure investment
• Advanced waste treatment facilities

Victoria

Key Policies:

• Recycling Victoria Policy (10-year plan)
• 80% waste diversion by 2030
• Container deposit scheme (CDS Vic) launched 2023
• Landfill levy: $125.90/tonne

Major Initiatives:

• Four-bin system rollout (waste, recycling, glass, organics)
• $515 million infrastructure fund
• Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre
• Single-use plastics ban

Queensland

Key Policies:

• Queensland Waste Strategy
• 75% waste recovery by 2025
• Container refund scheme (Containers for Change)
• Waste levy: Varies by region ($85-$160/tonne)

Major Initiatives:

• Single-use plastics phase-out
• Food organics garden organics (FOGO) expansion
• Product stewardship for mattresses
• E-waste recycling programs

Western Australia

Key Policies:

• Western Australian Waste Strategy 2030
• 75% materials recovery by 2030
• Container deposit scheme (Containers for Change WA)
• Landfill levy: $70/tonne metro

Major Initiatives:

• FOGO rollout across Perth
• Single-use plastics ban
• Waste infrastructure investment
• Better bins program

South Australia

Key Policies:

• South Australia's Waste Strategy 2020-2025
• 90% waste diversion by 2030 (most ambitious in Australia)
• Container deposit scheme (pioneered in 1977, first in Australia)
• Landfill levy: $146/tonne

Major Initiatives:

• Plastic bag ban (first state in Australia)
• Single-use plastics phaseout
• Green Industries SA leadership
• Circular economy programs

Tasmania

Key Policies:

• Tasmanian Waste Action Plan
• No container deposit scheme yet (under consideration)
• Lower landfill levy: $82/tonne

Initiatives:

• Waste education programs
• Recycling infrastructure development
• Single-use plastics reduction

Australian Capital Territory

Key Policies:

• ACT Waste Feasibility Study guiding policy
• 90% waste diversion target by 2025
• Container deposit scheme
• Landfill levy: Highest in Australia at $231/tonne

Initiatives:

• Best practice FOGO program
• Innovative community engagement
• Commercial waste audits
• Reuse and repair networks

Northern Territory

Key Policies:

• Northern Territory Waste Management Strategy
• Container deposit scheme (Containers for Change NT)
• Landfill levy: $75/tonne

Challenges:

• Remote community access
• Infrastructure limitations
• High transport costs
• Small population base

Australian Recycling Performance

National Recovery Rates

Overall Performance:

• National recovery rate: 66% (2020-21)
• Up from 38% in 2006-07
• Significant progress but plateauing
• Regional variations substantial

By Material Type:

• Masonry materials: 81% recovery (construction waste)
• Metals: 90% recovery (strong markets)
• Paper/cardboard: 60% recovery
• Organics: 51% recovery (improving)
• Glass: 62% recovery
• Plastics: 13% recovery (lowest, major concern)

Container Deposit Schemes

Highly Successful Programs:

All states and territories except Tasmania now have CDS:

South Australia - Pioneer since 1977:

• 10¢ refund on eligible containers
• 77% return rate
• Over 11 billion containers returned since inception

NSW Return and Earn:

• 10¢ refund
• 8+ billion containers returned
• 700+ return points

Queensland Containers for Change:

• 10¢ refund
• 10+ billion containers returned
• Supports community organizations

Victoria CDS Vic:

• 10¢ refund
• Launched November 2023
• Rapid rollout underway

Benefits:

• High recovery rates (>80% for covered containers)
• Reduced litter
• Community fundraising
• Creates employment
• Clean material streams

Waste Management Costs in Australia

Residential Waste Collection

Council Rates Include Waste Service:

Most Australian households pay for waste collection through council rates:

Annual Waste Service Charges:

• Sydney metro: AUD $400-$650 per year
• Melbourne metro: AUD $350-$550 per year
• Brisbane: AUD $350-$500 per year
• Perth: AUD $300-$450 per year
• Adelaide: AUD $300-$450 per year
• Regional areas: Generally AUD $250-$400 per year

Typical Service Includes:

• Weekly general waste collection
• Fortnightly recycling collection
• FOGO collection (varies by council)
• 1-2 hard waste/bulky item collections per year

Additional Charges:

• Extra bins: AUD $50-$150 per year
• Green waste subscription: AUD $80-$120 per year
• Hard waste on-demand: AUD $50-$150 per collection

Commercial Waste Costs

Front-Lift Bin Services (Monthly):

• 240L general waste: AUD $80-$150/month
• 660L general waste: AUD $200-$400/month
• 1100L general waste: AUD $350-$650/month
• Recycling services: Generally 20-40% cheaper than general waste

Skip Bin Hire:

• 2m³ skip: AUD $150-$300
• 4m³ skip: AUD $250-$450
• 6m³ skip: AUD $350-$600
• 8m³ skip: AUD $500-$850
• 10m³+ skip: AUD $700-$1,200+

Specialized Services:

• Junk removal: AUD $200-$1,500 per job
• Hazardous waste: AUD $100-$1,000+ depending on type
• E-waste collection: Often FREE through schemes
• Confidential waste: AUD $80-$300 per service

Landfill Gate Fees by State (2024-25)

Metropolitan Areas:

1. ACT: $231/tonne (highest - drives 90% diversion)
2. NSW metro: $153.80/tonne
3. South Australia: $146/tonne
4. Victoria: $125.90/tonne
5. Western Australia: $70/tonne
6. Queensland: $85-$160/tonne (varies)
7. Tasmania: $82/tonne (lowest)
8. Northern Territory: $75/tonne

Regional Areas:

• Generally 30-50% lower than metro rates
• Some regions have no levy
• Distances to facilities affect costs

Plastic Waste Challenges

Australia's Plastic Problem

Plastic Consumption:

• 3.5 million tonnes of plastics consumed annually
• 2.9 million tonnes become waste
• Only 13% recycled (one of lowest rates)
• 84,000 tonnes of plastic ending up in oceans annually
• Significant environmental impact

Single-Use Plastics Bans

Implemented Across States (2022-2024):

Banned Items (varies by state):

• Plastic shopping bags (all states)
• Plastic straws (most states)
• Plastic cutlery and plates
• Polystyrene food containers
• Cotton bud sticks
• Expanded polystyrene packaging
• Microbeads in personal care products
• Beverage stirrers
• Balloon sticks and holders

Impact:

• Significant reduction in single-use plastic consumption
• Innovation in alternative materials
• Behavior change among consumers and businesses
• Implementation challenges for some sectors

Plastic Recycling Infrastructure

Investment Priorities:

• Advanced sorting technologies
• Chemical recycling facilities
• Domestic reprocessing capacity
• Markets for recycled plastics
• Product stewardship schemes

Organic Waste Management

Food Waste Challenge

Scale of Problem:

• 7.6 million tonnes of food wasted annually
• Worth over $36.6 billion
• Equivalent to 312 kg per person
• 70% avoidable or could be donated
• Major environmental and economic cost

FOGO Programs

Food Organics Garden Organics Expansion:

Leading Councils:

• Mandatory in some states for new developments
• Rapidly rolling out across metropolitan areas
• Reduces landfill methane emissions
• Creates valuable compost product

Service Models:

• Weekly FOGO collection
• Separate food and garden bins
• Education and contamination management
• Processing through composting or anaerobic digestion

Benefits:

• Diverts 30-40% of household waste stream
• Reduces landfill methane (potent greenhouse gas)
• Produces valuable soil conditioners
• Supports circular economy

Commercial Food Waste

Regulations:

• Large food waste generators increasingly required to separate
• State-level mandates emerging
• Incentives for organics diversion

Solutions:

• Dedicated food waste collection services
• On-site composting (larger generators)
• Anaerobic digestion facilities
• Food rescue and redistribution programs

E-Waste Management

National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme

Mandatory Product Stewardship:

• Free household collection of TVs and computers
• Producer-funded scheme
• Over 90% of population has access
• Targets: 80% computer recovery, 80% TV recovery by 2026-27

Collection Network:

• Drop-off points at retailers
• Council collection events
• Permanent collection sites
• Mail-back programs for accessories

Battery Stewardship

Battery Stewardship Scheme (BSS):

Launched 2022 as co-regulatory scheme:

• Covers household batteries, power tool batteries
• Growing collection network
• Targets: 70% collection of handheld batteries by 2026-27
• Increasing awareness and participation

Challenges

Growing E-Waste Volumes:

• Fastest-growing waste stream
• 623,000 tonnes generated in 2021-22
• Only 48% recovery rate
• Contains valuable and hazardous materials
• Shorter product lifespans increasing waste

Construction and Demolition Waste

Largest Waste Stream

C&D Waste Statistics:

• 27 million tonnes of masonry materials annually
• Represents 36% of total waste
• 81% recovery rate (highest of any material)
• Dominated by concrete, brick, timber

Recovery and Reuse

High Performing Sector:

Recovery Methods:

• Concrete crushing for road base
• Brick reuse and crushing
• Timber salvage and recycling
• Metal recovery (near 100%)
• Mixed C&D sorting facilities

Challenges:

• Contamination with other materials
• Asbestos presence in older buildings
• Quality standards for recycled materials
• Market development for lower-grade materials

Product Stewardship Opportunities

Emerging Schemes:

• Plasterboard recycling programs
• Paint stewardship (national scheme)
• Carpet recycling initiatives
• Insulation material recovery

Waste-to-Energy in Australia

Controversial Role

Limited Deployment:

Australia has been slower than other developed nations to adopt WtE:

Operating Facilities:

• Kwinana Resource Recovery Facility (WA) - First full-scale WtE
• Eastern Creek EfW (NSW) - Under construction
• Several smaller facilities proposed

Debate:

• Supporters: Reduces landfill, generates energy, handles residual waste
• Critics: Competing with recycling, air emissions concerns, locks in waste generation

Regulatory Framework

State Approaches Vary:

• Some states supportive with clear approval pathways
• Others restrictive or discouraging
• Strict emission standards required
• Must not undermine waste hierarchy
• Energy recovery vs recycling prioritization debate

Circular Economy Innovations

Business Leadership

Circular Economy Leaders:

1. Australian Packaging Covenant (APCO)

• 1,200+ member organizations
• Sustainable packaging commitments
• 2025 targets for recyclable/compostable/reusable packaging
• Progress tracking and reporting

2. Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence

• Advancing producer responsibility
• Scheme development support
• Research and innovation

3. Circular Economy Victoria

• Innovation hub
• Business support and funding
• Collaboration facilitation

Innovative Programs

1. Reuse and Repair:

• Reverse vending machines for containers
• Repair cafés expanding
• Social enterprises (e.g., Good360, GIVIT)
• Tool libraries and sharing platforms

2. Industrial Symbiosis:

• Waste exchanges between industries
• By-product reuse networks
• Manufacturing efficiency

3. Sustainable Procurement:

• Government buying recycled content products
• Mandatory recycled content targets
• Market development for secondary materials

4. Design Innovation:

• Circular design programs
• Cradle-to-cradle products
• Modular and repairable goods

Challenges Facing Australian Waste Management

Export Ban Adjustment

Domestic Capacity Gap:

• Export bans on plastic, paper, glass, tyres
• Insufficient domestic reprocessing capacity
• Temporary stockpiling issues
• Investment in local facilities needed

Opportunities:

• Job creation in recycling sector
• Development of local manufacturing
• Reduced transport emissions
• Greater material security

Contamination Issues

Recycling Contamination:

• 10-20% contamination in kerbside recycling
• Reduces material value
• Increases processing costs
• Public education needed

"Wishcycling":

• Well-meaning but incorrect recycling
• Soft plastics in kerbside bins (major issue)
• Need for clear, consistent labeling

Regional and Remote Challenges

Infrastructure Gaps:

• Limited services in remote areas
• High transport costs
• Small volumes uneconomic
• Indigenous community considerations

Solutions Needed:

• Regional processing facilities
• Innovative collection models
• Tailored programs for remote areas
• Government support for uneconomic services

Climate Impacts

Waste Sector Emissions:

• Landfill methane: Major contributor to greenhouse gases
• Transport emissions from collection
• Embodied energy in landfilled materials
• Organics diversion critical for emissions reduction

The Future of Australian Waste Management

2025-2035 Outlook

Regulatory Developments:

• Expanded product stewardship schemes
• Stricter plastic reduction policies
• Harmonized national approach
• Mandatory recycled content requirements

Infrastructure Investment:

• $1+ billion in recycling infrastructure needed
• MRFs upgrades with advanced sorting
• Organics processing expansion
• Remanufacturing facilities

Market Development:

• Government procurement driving demand
• Recycled content mandates
• Labeling standards
• Consumer awareness

Path to Doubling Circularity

Achieving 8.6% by 2035:

Key Strategies:

1. Design for circularity - Products made for longevity and recycling
2. Extended producer responsibility - More products covered
3. Infrastructure investment - Modern facilities nationwide
4. Market development - Strong demand for secondary materials
5. Waste reduction - Prevention before recycling
6. Innovation support - New technologies and business models

Emerging Technologies

Innovations to Watch:

1. Advanced Sorting:

• AI-powered robotics
• Optical sorting for complex materials
• Chemical sensors for contamination

2. Chemical Recycling:

• Pyrolysis for plastics
• Complementing mechanical recycling
• Handling mixed/contaminated materials

3. Blockchain:

• Waste tracking and verification
• Supply chain transparency
• Compliance documentation

4. Decentralized Processing:

• Community-scale facilities
• On-site organics processing
• Reducing transport needs

Conclusion

Australia's waste management sector stands at a critical juncture. With 75.8 million tonnes of waste generated annually, a 66% recovery rate, and ambitious goals to double the circularity rate to 8.6% by 2035, the nation must accelerate its transition to a circular economy.

Key takeaways:

• Strong recovery rate (66%) but plastics lagging at 13%
• State leadership varies - SA leading with 90% diversion target
• Export bans driving domestic capacity development
• Container deposit schemes highly successful across most states
• Food waste diversion critical focus through FOGO programs
• Product stewardship expanding - more schemes coming
• Circular economy - National strategy targeting 8.6% by 2035
• Investment needed - $1+ billion for infrastructure
• C&D sector performing well - 81% recovery rate
• Plastic challenge - Single-use bans implemented, more action needed

Whether you're a business navigating waste regulations, a council implementing collection programs, or a resident looking to reduce waste, understanding Australia's complex and evolving waste management landscape is essential for contributing to the nation's circular economy future.

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Last updated: January 2025. Sources: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Waste Report 2022, State and Territory Environmental Agencies, Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO).