Drink container recycling rates on the increase

New data released by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) shows that Australia’s drink container recycling rates are continuing to rise, with an extra 42,284 tonnes recycled in 2011-12 compared with the previous year.

The report from expert waste analysts Industry Edge and Equilibrium shows that a combination of manufacturers’ active light-weighting of PET plastic drink bottles and significant additional recycling - particularly of glass - has driven a further increase in overall recycling rates despite an increase in the overall number of containers in the market.

“These results confirm the effectiveness of the current recycling schemes, through both the AFGC’s Packaging Stewardship Forum and the Australian Packaging Covenant, that are delivering sustained improvements in beverage container recycling at no cost to the community,” said Gary Dawson, AFGC Chief Executive.

“Australians are great recyclers, but we believe we can accelerate these improvements by making it easier and more convenient than ever to recycle packaging.”

“That’s why industry is ready to roll out a $100 million national recycling scheme, the National Bin Network, that builds on the practical, targeted initiatives that we know from experience, and the results released today, do work. Our scheme delivers for the environment, but is fully industry funded and won’t cost families like a drink container tax would,” Dawson said.

The study also found that competition in kerbside recycling had strengthened and that reported prices being paid to councils for recyclables collected reached record highs in some states, reflecting rising commodity prices, the efficiency of mature material recovery facilities, effective householder participation and the impact of new investment and technology.

This up-to-the-minute information will be shared with jurisdictions as they consider the most efficient and effective way to maintain improvements in Australia’s packaging recycling and litter reduction performance at the next COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water meeting in April.

Details about the National Bin Network can be found at www.nationalbinnetwork.com.au. The Industry Edge and Equilibrium report is available from the AFGC website: www.afgc.org.au.