Recycling in Australia

Prior to World War II, open and unregulated landfills as well as incinerators were a popular and viable solution to Australia's waste problem. The only material with enough value to compensate recycling was waste paper. Waste paper collections from households and factories started in Melbourne in the 1920s, with the practice becoming widespread across Australia by the 1940s due to the start of World War II. In addition to the collection and recycling of paper, World War II caused a very high level of demand for resources such as metal, paper, and rubber waste to contribute to the war effort. Despite the rise in recycling, these recycling practises faded after the war with no sustainable market for these resources.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-27 |title=History of Waste – Waste Not – Mash It Up! |url=https://wastenot.org.au/history-of-waste/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527023635/https://wastenot.org.au/history-of-waste/ |archive-date=2019-05-27 |access-date=2022-10-01 }}

The 1970s saw the return of recycling due to an explosion of public concern about the protection of the environment. Similarly to pre World War II, the only major recycled product was paper- with 30% of consumption collected. During the 1970s also saw the introduction of community recycling centres in Melbourne and Sydney local councils where the community could voluntarily bring glass, metal and paper.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s many local councils began kerbside recycling collections. Kerbside recycling collections allowed Australian households to separate out recyclables such as paper and glass for processing. During this time extensive education campaigns educated Australians about the new practice, which has become commonplace well into the 21st century.

One campaign, ‘Do the Right Thing’ was a highly successful advertising campaign launched by Keep Australia Beautiful which ran during the 1980s to help educate the public about litter and the importance of recycling.{{Cite web |last=Southam |first=Val |date=2021 |title=CEO's message |url=https://kab.org.au/wp-content/uploads/CAMPAIGN_39.pdf |access-date=1 October 2022}}

The introduction of container deposit schemes in Australia during the 1980s and 1990s encouraged community groups to collect aluminium cans for recycling in many states and territories. Newspaper publishers also agreed to pay for paper waste to be collected by councils thus helping to fund kerbside collections. Collection rates for both materials rose to about 65% Australia wide with the amount of waste generated by each person reaching ~1 tonne a year.

At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 Australia was a signatory to Agenda 21. Agenda 21 was designed for countries to "commit to waste minimisation, environmentally sound waste reuse and recycling, and environmentally sound waste treatment and disposal."

In an attempt to encourage recycling, Australian states started imposing higher levies on landfills after 2006. This caused a reduction in landfill waste as the high costs (up to $200 tonne by 2014 in New South Wales) caused a strain on the disposal of waste.{{Cite web |date=2017-02-14 |title=Australians are paying a high price for landfills and recycling – but there are ways to save |url=https://www.ecubelabs.com/australians-are-paying-a-high-price-for-landfills-and-recycling-but-there-are-ways-to-save/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Ecube Labs |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House |first=Canberra |title=Chapter 4 |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/WasteandRecycling/Report/c04 |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=www.aph.gov.au |language=en-AU}}

On 1 January 2018, China announced Operation National Sword, an operation that restricted imports on 24 categories of Australian recycling materials, resulting in stockpiling of recyclable materials in Australia with no destination.Shooshtarian S, T Maqsood, PSP Wong, M Khalfan and RJ Yang (27-29 October 2021) 'The impact of new international waste policies on the Australian construction and demolition waste stream'. The 44th AUBEA Conference: Construction Education – Live the Future. Deakin University, Virtual Conference. The President of the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR), Garth Lamb, had advocated for infrastructure projects to use recovered recycled materials rather than raw materials, such as crushed glass replacing sand in roadworks.{{cite news |date=8 February 2018 |title=Chinese rubbish ban 'could see end of kerbside recycling' in Australia |language=en-AU |work=ABC News|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-08/the-demise-of-kerb-side-recycling/9407650 |access-date=19 April 2018}} The new restrictions placed by China impose a maximum contamination threshold for accepted materials of 0.5%- a rate hard to achieve by the industry in Australia due to the levels of contamination.{{cite web |last1=Downes |first1=Jenni |title=China's recycling 'ban' throws Australia into a very messy waste crisis |url=https://theconversation.com/chinas-recycling-ban-throws-australia-into-a-very-messy-waste-crisis-95522 |access-date=1 May 2018 |website=The Conversation |date=26 April 2018 |language=en}} Prior to Operation National Sword, Australia sent 1.25 million tons of waste to China in 2017.{{Cite web |title=Australia – waste export volume for recycling from Australia to China 2018 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/991182/waste-export-volume-for-recycling-from-australia-to-china/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Statista |language=en}}

File:Tyabb Resource Recovery Centre paper bin 2022-12-02 02.jpg in 2022.]]

In an effort to rejuvenate the Australian recycling industry, a range of policies and programs have been established to reduce contamination and recycle more of Australia's waste onshore. In addition to programs established by South Australia in 1977 and the Northern Territory in 2012, container deposit schemes have been widely rolled out or are planning to be introduced in the remaining 6 Australian states and territories by 2023.{{Cite news |date=2020-02-23 |title=Victorians will soon have four bins for their recycling and waste |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-24/victoria-introduces-container-deposit-scheme-bottles-and-cans/11993460 |access-date=2022-10-01}} These programs have reduced contamination as bottles and cans are separated from the waste stream before being contaminated.{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |date=2022-06-09 |title=Green action makes for economic and social wins |url=https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/green-action-makes-for-economic-and-social-wins-20220608-p5arzy.html |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

A parliamentary inquiry into the waste and recycling industry in Australia filed a report on 13 June 2018.{{cite web |title=Waste and recycling industry in Australia |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/WasteandRecycling |website=www.aph.gov.au |language=en-AU}}

In 2020, the Victorian Government announced a recycling industry overhaul focusing on increasing recycling and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. This overhaul included the introduction of a container deposit scheme to be introduced in November 2023,{{Cite web |url=https://www.vic.gov.au/container-deposit-scheme |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=www.vic.gov.au |title=Container deposit scheme |date=9 November 2023 }} the introduction of a new household glass bin by 2027, the standardisation of bin lids, and mandating that every household will have a food and garden organics (FOGO) bin by 2030.{{Cite web |url=https://engage.vic.gov.au/sorting-household-recycling |url-status=live |archive-date=Mar 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324151546/https://engage.vic.gov.au/sorting-household-recycling |title=Standardising recycling at home across Victoria |language=en |website=Victoria State Government |access-date=20 August 2023}}

To incentivise recycling, local councils provide heavy discounts or the inclusion of a household recycling bin for free. In contrast, food and garden organic bins require a payment however are discounted.{{Cite web |title=Order, Repair, Swap or Cancel Bins|url=https://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/waste-environment/rubbish-recycling/bin-services/order-bin |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Whitehorse City Council|language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Larger recycling bin |url=https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/rubbish-tips-and-bins/rubbish-bins/larger-recycling-bin |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Brisbane City Council|language=en}} These incentives make recycling a viable option for households due to the small or non-existent cost associated with using the service/s.

{{Main articles|Waste management in Australia#Campaigns and actions}}

Advertising campaigns based on educating the public about how to recycle, cohesive product labelling (the Australasian Recycling Label), and events including Planet Ark's 'National Recycling Week' assists in raising awareness on the issues surrounding recycling and how to correctly recycle.{{Cite web |title=National Recycling Week |url=http://planetark.org/programs/national-recycling-week |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=planetark.org |language=English}}{{Cite web |title=Charitable Recycling Australia |url=https://www.charitablerecycling.org.au/about/campaigns-and-media/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Junkie |first=Asia Ad |date=2022-01-07 |title='It's all Rubbish' Says Campaign for ReMade Australia |url=https://www.brandinginasia.com/its-all-rubbish-says-campaign-for-remade-australia/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Branding in Asia Magazine |language=en-US}}

Household recycling in Australia is typically done through a system of kerbside collection bins with different coloured lids to represent different waste streams. The majority of states and territories use a red lid for landfill, yellow lid for recycling, and a green lid for food and garden organics.{{Cite web |title=Bin lid colours explained |url=https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Your-Property/Rubbish-Recycling/Bins/Bin-lid-colours-explained |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=www.mornpen.vic.gov.au |language=en-AU}} In some New South Wales councils, a blue lid is used for paper and cardboard recycling, and Victoria is currently rolling out a purple lid bin for glass recycling.{{Cite web |title=Why Victorian homes will have four rubbish bins|url=https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/sustainability/four-rubbish-bins-guide.html |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=RACV |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Blue lid recycling bin|url=https://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/residents/waste_and_recycling/collection_days_and_bins/blue_lid_recycling_bin |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Waverley Council}} In 2018/19, 63% of all waste produced in Australia was recycled or recovered.{{Cite web |last= |title=National Waste Report 2020 |url=https://www.awe.gov.au/sites/default/files/env/pages/5a160ae2-d3a9-480e-9344-4eac42ef9001/files/national-waste-report-2020.pdf |access-date=2 June 2022 |website=environment.gov.au}} In 2016–2017, 46% of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) was recycled.{{cite web |title=National Waste Report 2018 |url=https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/national-waste-reports/national-waste-report-2018.pdf |website=Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water}}

Recycling in Australia is managed on a council basis, where each council has their own rules on what can and can't be placed in the recycling bin. Despite this, the following items are commonly placed in the recycling bin:{{Cite web |date=2021-06-21 |title=Your Guide to Recycling in Australia |url=https://insiderguides.com.au/your-guide-to-recycling-in-australia/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Insider Guides |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=What goes in each bin |url=https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/Services/Waste-and-recycling/What-goes-in-each-bin |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=City of Stonnington|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|website=Cleanaway|date=1 October 2022 |title=Recycling Hub |url=https://www.cleanaway.com.au/recycling-hub/?tab=directory }}

• Aluminium cans, foil, and trays
• Glass bottles and jars
• Paper, cartons, and cardboard
• Plastic bottles, trays, and containers
• Steel cans and aerosols

Metals collected through kerbside recycling bins include aluminium and steel which can be converted into new products depending on their level of contamination, the quality of the recycling, and the characteristics of the metal.{{Cite web |title=National Recycling Week 2018 Report |url=https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/nationalrecyclingweek/research/2018/#WOW-Section |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=recyclingnearyou.com.au}}

Aluminium can be repurposed into new consumer metal products (cans, foil, trays) and can also be used in aeroplanes and consumer electronics.{{Cite web |last=Calma |first=Justine |date=2019-09-12 |title=Aluminum is recycling's new best friend, but it's complicated |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/12/20862775/aluminum-recycling-water-tech-plastic-manufacturing-cocacola-pepsi-apple |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} Due to the aluminium's unique properties and high sale price, it can be recycled endlessly into new products.{{Cite web |date=2017-10-19 |title=Recycling Aluminium|url=https://aluminium.org.au/how-aluminium-is-made/recycling-aluminium-chart/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Australian Aluminium Council}} Recycling rates in Australia for aluminium packaging sits between 44% and 66% with the majority of processing occurring onshore.{{Cite web |last=Keulemans |first=Guy |title=We've smelted a billion tonnes of recyclable aluminium. Do we need to make more? |url=http://theconversation.com/weve-smelted-a-billion-tonnes-of-recyclable-aluminium-do-we-need-to-make-more-166784 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=The Conversation |date=17 November 2021 |language=en}}

Steel cans are most commonly used in food packaging, as paint containers, and as aerosol cans which can all be recycled through kerbside collection.{{Cite web |last=WCMS |first=Webboy net |title=Recycling Near You – Steel Can Recycling |url=https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/pages/steel-cans |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Recycling Near You |language=en-AU}} Recycled cans can be reprocessed into new food packaging, railway tracks, car parts and construction materials. In 2018, the rate of steel recycling was ~56% in Australia.{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=THE FACTS ABOUT RECYCLING STEEL & ALUMINIUM |url=https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/3925/Recycling_A4-Factsheet_Steel-and-Metal_web.pdf |access-date=2 October 2022 |website=City of Townsville}}

Glass recycling is common in Australia with a recycling rate of 46%.{{Cite web |last=Department of the Environment & Energy|date=7 October 2019 |title=Assessment of Australian recycling infrastructure – Glass packaging |url=https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/assessment-australian-recycling-infrastructure-glass-packaging.pdf |access-date=2 October 2022}} Recycling of glass occurs mostly onshore through companies like Visy and O–I Asia. The process of recycling glass involves sortation and melting of the products to produce new glass products, sand, or for use in the construction of road projects.

The Victorian Government announced in 2020 that every Victorian household would receive a purple lidded glass recycling bin. The rollout will be completed by 2027 with the aim of reducing contamination in the yellow lid recycling bin and to increase the state's recycling rate.

The quality of paper and cardboard degrades over time as the recycling process continues. This means that traditionally the end product after the recycling process is at a lower quality than the original virgin product.{{Cite web |title=Problems with Paper Recycling {{!}} World Centric Blog |url=https://www.worldcentric.com/journal/problems-with-paper |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=World Centric |language=en}} In 2022, the majority of Australia's paper and cardboard is mostly recycled in Australia.{{Cite web |website=Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority |date=Jan 2020 |title=DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FIBRE (PAPER + CARDBOARD) INDUSTRY– STATUS UPDATE |url=https://www.nawma.sa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Fibre-Industry-Update-Jan-2020.pdf }} Prior to the 2018 Operation National Sword, 55% of Australia's paper and cardboard waste was recycled locally with 28% recycled in China.

Australia also has numerous carton (Tetra Pak) recycling facilities.{{Cite web |title=Tetra Pak Invests in Four New Recycling Facilities, Enabling Global Carton Packaging Recycling to Exceed Fifty Billion a Year |url=https://www.csrwire.com/reports/737521/tetra-pak-invests-four-new-recycling-facilities-enabling-global-carton-packaging |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=www.csrwire.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=2022-09-07T10:41:00+01:00 |title=What does DRS offer as part of local and global responses to plastic waste? |url=https://packagingeurope.com/features/what-does-drs-offer-as-part-of-local-and-global-responses-to-plastic-waste/8662.article |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Packaging Europe |language=en}}

Plastics accepted in most kerbside recycling bins include: type 1 (PET), type 2 (HDPE), and type 5 (PP).{{Cite web |website=City of Hobsons Bay|title=RECYCLING PLASTICS- lets recycle 2.0 |url=https://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/documents/services/waste/envir03626-recycling-2.0-four-bin-factsheet-web-1.pdf |access-date=2 October 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Recycler |first=Everyday |date=2020-03-15 |title=Plastic Numbers – No 5 – PP – Polypropylene |url=https://everydayrecycler.com/plastic-number-5-pp/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Everyday Recycler |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=The 7 Different Types of Plastic |url=https://www.plasticsforchange.org/blog/different-types-of-plastic |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Plastics For Change |language=en-US}}

Other plastics (type 3, type 4, type 6, and type 7) aren't always recyclable through kerbside collection.{{Cite web |title=Recycling plastics – what the numbers mean {{!}} Yarra City Council |url=https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/news/2019/10/29/recycling-plastics |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=www.yarracity.vic.gov.au |language=en}} Type 6 (polystyrene) can be dropped off at council operated transfer stations for recycling. Type 4 (low-density polyethylene) was able to be recycled through REDcycle drop off points in supermarkets in a program that ended in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Commission |first=Australian Competition and Consumer |date=2023-03-30 |title=Cooperation proposed to continue on soft plastics recycling after REDcycle liquidation |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/cooperation-proposed-to-continue-on-soft-plastics-recycling-after-redcycle-liquidation |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=www.accc.gov.au |language=en}}

Plastic waste can be reprocessed in a number of ways, with the result of being reconverted into various new products, such as bottles, bins, bags or piping.{{Cite book |last=Australia. Parliament. Senate. Environment and Communications References Committee |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1183842922 |title=Never waste a crisis : the waste and recycling industry in Australia |date=June 2018 |others=Peter Whish-Wilson |isbn=978-1-76010-776-5 |location=Canberra, ACT |oclc=1183842922}} Prior to the introduction of Operation National Sword in 2018, 71% of Australian exports of scrap paper/paperboard and scrap plastics went to China.{{Cite web |last=O’Farrell |first=Kyle |date=30 Jan 2019 |title=2017–18 Australian Plastics Recycling Survey |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/australian-plastics-recycling-survey-report-2017-18.pdf }} After the introduction of Operation National Sword, the figure fell significantly to only 16% of exported mixed plastic scrap being sent to China during the full financial year of 2017–18. This fell even further to 8% of exported mixed plastic scrap going to China in June 2018.

Despite challenges faced in the industry, such as the collapse of the REDcycle program,{{Cite web |title=REDcycle collapsed with $5m in debts - PKN Packaging News |url=https://www.packagingnews.com.au/latest/redcycle-collapsed-with-5m-in-debts |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.packagingnews.com.au |language=en}} the plastics recycling industry is beginning to recover in Australia due to government incentives, export restrictions{{Cite news |date=2022-04-05 |title=The way Australia consumes plastic is about to enter a new stage |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-06/plastic-recycling-industry-changes-take-effect-australia/100948448 |access-date=2022-10-02}}{{Cite web |last=CSIRO |title=Advanced recycling turning plastic waste into resources |url=https://www.csiro.au/en/news/news-releases/2021/advanced-recycling-turning-plastic-waste-into-resources |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=www.csiro.au |language=en}} and supermarket cooperative work.{{Cite web |last=Commission |first=Australian Competition and Consumer |date=2023-06-30 |title=Cooperation to continue on soft plastics recycling after REDcycle collapse |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/cooperation-to-continue-on-soft-plastics-recycling-after-redcycle-collapse |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.accc.gov.au |language=en}}

Similar to recycling, food and garden organic collections are managed on a council basis with weekly or fortnightly collections. Traditionally, these bins would only include green garden waste collections, however since as early as 2013 in the City of Bunbury in Western Australia,{{cite web|url=https://www.climateaction.wa.gov.au/initiatives/go-fogo-program|title=Go FOGO Program|publisher=Government of Western Australia|access-date=2025-04-26}} food waste began being accepted in the bins alongside the renaming of the bins to "food organics and garden organics" (FOGO).{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=All Victorians to get four wheelie bins to enable recycling of soft plastics and pizza boxes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/sep/29/all-victorians-to-get-four-wheelie-bins-to-enable-recycling-of-soft-plastics-and-pizza-boxes |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=The Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2022-09-09 |title=Cardboard, compostable packaging, tea bags, tissues, animal poo all out in new FOGO bin restrictions |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-09/epa-introduces-new-restrictions-to-fogo-for-nsw-councils/101421954 |access-date=2022-10-02}}{{Cite web |last=EPA |first=NSW |title=$46 million to revolutionise household food and garden waste |url=https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/news/media-releases/2022/epamedia220921-$46-million-to-revolutionise-household-food-and-garden-waste |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=New South Wales Environment Protection Authority|language=en}} These changes have contributed to an uptake in food and garden organic recycling.{{Cite web |last1=Pickin |first1=Joe |last2=Randell |first2=Paul |last3=Trinh |first3=Jenny |last4=Grant |first4=Bill |date=19 November 2018 |title=National Waste Report 2018 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/7381c1de-31d0-429b-912c-91a6dbc83af7/files/national-waste-report-2018.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409235102/http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/7381c1de-31d0-429b-912c-91a6dbc83af7/files/national-waste-report-2018.pdf |archive-date=9 April 2019 |access-date=31 May 2019 |website=Department of Environment & Energy}} Accepted items vary council to council, however these items are commonly accepted in the food and garden organics bin:{{Cite web|date=2020-02-11 |title=FOGO bin |url=https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/waste-environment/bins/fogo-bin |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=City of Boroondara|language=en-AU}}

• Lawn clippings, weeds, and leaves
• Sticks and small branches
• Fruits and vegetables
• Meats and fish
• Bread, pasta, and egg shells
• Dairy products
• Compostable bin liners
• Compostable packaging

Upon collection, contents of the bin are taken to a composting site where it is screened for contamination before being turned into soil, potting mix, or mulch.

Hard waste collections occur in most suburban and regional councils and is designed to collect waste that is too large for a kerbside collection bin or for items that aren't accepted in any of the standard waste collections.{{Cite web |title=FAQ |url=https://www.hardrubbishmelbourne.com.au/info/faq/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Hard Rubbish Collection, Hard Waste Collection, Mattress Recycling, Melbourne |language=en-AU}} Fixed hard waste collections happen twice a year, typically during the seasons of autumn and spring. Some councils use a ticketed approach where the resident has two collections per year that they can redeem at any time. Items collected during a hard waste collection may be disposed, recycled, or reused depending on the condition. Items typically accepted include:{{Cite web |title=Hard waste collection |url=https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/Services/Waste-and-recycling/Hard-waste-collection |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=www.stonnington.vic.gov.au |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Hard rubbish, branches and cardboard |url=https://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/services/rubbish-and-recycling/hard-rubbish-branches-and-cardboard |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=www.gleneira.vic.gov.au |language=en-au}}{{Cite web |title=Hard waste|url=http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/residents/waste-recycling/Pages/hard-waste.aspx |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=City of Melbourne|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Kerbside collection acceptable items |url=https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/rubbish-tips-and-bins/rubbish-collections/kerbside-large-item-collection-service/kerbside-collection-acceptable-items |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Brisbane City Council|language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Free council pick-up for residents |url=https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/waste-recycling-services/book-pick-up-for-bulky-items |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=City of Sydney|language=en}}

As hard waste is placed on a residents nature strip, members of the public are able to access and take items for their own reuse and repurpose. This removes the need for recycling or disposal and gives the item a longer use life.{{Cite web |title=Sydney's 'Trash Lawyer' rescues hard rubbish, one usable object at a time |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/italian/en/podcast-episode/quanti-tesori-nellhard-rubbish-lesperienza-di-leonardo-il-trash-lawyer/2a6ihsupo |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=SBS Language |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-02-04 |title=Australia's hard rubbish heroes risk council fines to recycle and re-home their kerbside plunder |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/feb/05/australias-hard-rubbish-heroes-risk-council-fines-to-recycle-and-re-home-their-kerbside-plunder |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}

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For waste that cannot be recycled through traditional kerbside collections (hard to recycle items) or in areas where kerbside collections aren't available, drop-off locations provide options for waste disposal and recycling. Drop-off locations include council transfer stations and store drop-offs programs.{{Cite web |last=Noble |first=Kelly |date=2022-09-05 |title=New CBD recycling hubs open for batteries, glasses, light globes and more • Glam Adelaide |url=https://glamadelaide.com.au/new-cbd-recycling-hubs-open-for-batteries-glasses-light-globes-and-more/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Glam Adelaide |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Free Recycling Programs |url=https://www.terracycle.com/en-AU/about-terracycle/free_recycling_programs |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=TerraCycle |language=en-AU}}

Transfer Stations are common across Australia to dispose of waste and hard to recycle items. The centres are designed to encourage sortation of items to reduce contamination, increase the cleanliness of the waste, and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.{{Cite web |title=What is a transfer station? |url=https://www.yarriambiack.vic.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/documents/waste/get-it-sorted-brochure-2021.pdf |access-date=2 October 2022 |website=Yarra Ranges Council}} Items commonly accepted at transfer stations are similar to what is accepted in a hard waste collection. Items commonly accepted include:{{Cite web |url=https://www.monash.vic.gov.au/Waste-Sustainability/Monash-Recycling-Waste-Centre |title=Monash Recycling & Waste Centre |website=City of Monash |language=en |access-date=23 August 2023}}

• Electronic waste
• Scrap metal
• Hard waste
• Recyclables
• Mattesses
• Green waste
• Polystyrene
• Batteries
• Light globes
• Printer ink cartridges
• Paint and chemicals
• CDs, DVDs, cassettes
• Waste oil

Store drop-offs are designed to be easily accessible to the consumer to dispose of their hard to recycle items, and similarly to transfer stations, require the recycler to sort items for recycling. Supermarkets and retailers that sell hard to recycle items typically have a bin for customers to dispose of these hard to recycle waste streams, with examples of bins including soft plastics, batteries, ink cartridges, and electronic waste.{{Cite web |url=https://www.monash.vic.gov.au/Waste-Sustainability/Recycling-and-Composting/How-do-I-recycle |title=How do I recycle different items? |language=en |website=www.monash.vic.gov.au |access-date=21 August 2023}}

Electronic waste collection services were mandated under The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme in 2011, and can be dropped off at transfer stations, and electronic/appliance retailers.{{cite web |title=National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/protection/national-waste-policy/television-and-computer-recycling-scheme |access-date=28 September 2017 |publisher=Department of Environmental and Energy}}{{Cite web |title=Recycling at Officeworks {{!}} Pen, Cartridge & E-Waste Recycling |url=https://www.officeworks.com.au/information/about-us/peopleandplanet/recycling |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=www.officeworks.com.au}} Individual components are first separated from the electronic waste before each individual element is sent to be recycled. Major e-waste recyclers in Australia include Mobile Muster and Tech Collect, with most technology stores providing mobile phone or e-waste recycling bins.

A study conducted in 2019 estimates that Australia recycles only 12–20% of its e-waste.{{Cite news |date=2021-10-13 |title=Got an old phone in a drawer? We need to farewell products that can't be recycled, experts say |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-10-14/e-waste-electronics-landfill-gold-landfill-recycling/100524744 |access-date=2022-10-02}}{{Cite web |date=2021-08-24 |title=All your questions about E-waste answered |url=https://www.grace.com.au/all-your-questions-about-e-waste-answered/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Grace |language=en-AU}}

In Victoria and South Australia, it is illegal to dispose of e-waste in landfills. More states, including Western Australia, are planning to implement a ban by the end of the 2020s.{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Environment Protection Authority |title=Managing e-waste|url=https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/Ewaste |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Environment Protection Authority Victoria|language=en}}

Type 4 plastics (low density-polyethylene or soft plastics) are hard to recycle due to its tendency to become caught in processing machines at material recovery facilities.{{Cite web |title=Soft plastic is not fantastic in your recycling bin! {{!}} Which Bin SA |url=https://www.whichbin.sa.gov.au/tips/soft-plastic-is-not-fantastic-in-your-recycling-bin |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=www.whichbin.sa.gov.au}} Despite its difficulty to recycle, the material is also extremely common with 70 billion pieces used each year in Australia.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-28 |title=What's the deal with Soft Plastics? |url=https://www.cleanup.org.au/softplastics |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=www.cleanup.org.au |language=en}} In a bid to help recycle this material, until 2022 the RED Group collected soft plastics dropped off by consumers at Coles and Woolworths stores at Redcycle bins. The collected materials were sorted and sent to Replas, where they were recycled and turned into park furniture, road surfaces and bollards.

Following the collapse of the REDcycle program at the end of 2022, Aldi, Coles and Woolworths have started cooperating on finding solutions to the soft plastic recycling through the Soft Plastic Taskforce, chaired by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. It was announced in February 2024 that 12 locations in Melbourne would offer drop off bins for scrunchable food soft plastic that could be recycled through a newly operated facility.{{Cite news |last=Dumas |first=Daisy |date=2024-02-08 |title=Woolworths, Coles and Aldi to roll out soft plastics collection bins in 12 Melbourne stores |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/09/woolworths-coles-and-aldi-to-roll-out-soft-plastics-collection-bins-in-12-melbourne-stores |access-date=2024-02-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The new program aims at reusing the soft plastic into shopping trolleys and baskets, replace aggregate in concrete or become an additive for asphalt road.{{Cite news |date=2024-02-15 |title=A new soft plastic recycling scheme is underway. Will it work this time? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-15/soft-plastic-recycling-redcycle-collapse-new-scheme/103471606 |access-date=2024-02-15 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

Polystyrene (or type 6 plastic) is a common and very lightweight plastic, used for packaging and protection of goods. Polystyrene can be dropped off at most transfer stations for recycling, where it can be turned into coat hangers and synthetic timber.{{Cite web |title=Is polystyrene recyclable? |url=https://www.cleanaway.com.au/sustainable-future/is-polystyrene-recyclable/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Cleanaway |language=en-AU}} The Australia Packaging Covenant reports that only 29.7% of expanded polystyrene used for packaging is recycled. Preventing this rate from being higher is the high likelihood of contaminating other recyclables and the difficulty of sorting.

Although programs have existed before, in 2013, Aldi Supermarkets introduced the first supermarket battery recycling program in Australia. The program allowed customers to return AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V. Since the program was launched, through its partners Aldi have recycled 351 tonnes of batteries. In 2020 alone, 7.5 million batteries were diverted from landfill.{{Cite web |title=Waste & Recycling|url=https://corporate.aldi.com.au/en/corporate-responsibility/environment/waste-recycling/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Aldi}} Since Aldi's launch, numerous other supermarkets and stores have launched similar battery recycling programs, with battery recycling rates growing to 10% by 2021.{{Cite web|title=Lithium-ion battery recycling |url=https://www.csiro.au/en/research/technology-space/energy/energy-in-the-circular-economy/battery-recycling |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=CSIRO|language=en}}

In April 2018, the first onshore lithium battery recycling plant was opened in New Gisborne, Victoria.{{Cite web |last=Vorrath |first=Sophie |date=2018-04-27 |title=Australia's first lithium battery recycling plant launched |url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/australias-first-lithium-battery-recycling-plant-launched-19366/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=RenewEconomy |language=en-AU}}

In February 2022, "B-cycle" was federally authorised under the Product Stewardship Act.{{Cite news |date=2022-02-14 |title=There's now an easier way to recycle batteries. Here's how |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-15/national-recycling-battery-product-stewardship-economics/100829954 |access-date=2022-10-03}} B-cycle is a national recycling scheme in place to make it easier for Australians to dispose of their old batteries. B-cycle works with major retailers including Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings, Officeworks and Aldi to put battery collection bins at their stores to maximise coverage and access to the bins.{{Cite web |title=Find a B-cycle drop-off point |url=https://bcycle.com.au/drop-off/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=B-cycle |language=en-AU}}

Lead batteries (or car batteries) can be recycled at council operated transfer stations. There is a 99% recycling rate for lead batteries in 2021.

Transfer stations and all IKEA stores accept light bulbs and fluorescent tubes for recycling.{{Cite web |last=assemblo |date=2018-06-27 |title=How to dispose of incandescent, CFL/fluorescent, halogen and LEDs |url=https://ecocycle.com.au/lighting-and-electrical/how-to-properly-dispose-of-different-light-bulbs-incandescent-cfl-fluorescent-halogen-led/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Ecocycle – Australia |language=en-US}}

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Automotive recycling is considered one of the main solutions the growing number of vehicles reaching end-of-life (EOL) cycle. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, during 2001 to 2015 the number of new motor vehicles sales increased by 48% in Australia.{{Cite journal |last=Parker |first=Talei |date=2017-11-30 |title=The DataLab of the Australian Bureau of Statistics |journal=Australian Economic Review |volume=50 |issue=4 |pages=478–483 |doi=10.1111/1467-8462.12246 |issn=0004-9018 |doi-access=free}} The average life cycle of vehicle in Australia of 10.1 years, with the number of vehicles reaching its EOL cycle growing fast too. During 2014 to 2015, 765,828 vehicles reached their end-of-life cycle.Department of the Environment, Australia. 2009. [http://www.sulo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/National-Waste-Policy-Fact-Sheet_SOURCEAUSGOV.pdf National Waste Policy: Less Waste, More Resources] (accessed September 17, 2020).{{Cite web |last=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=2015-07-23 |title=Motor cycles outpace other vehicles |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/9309.0Media%20Release131%20Jan%202015 |access-date=2019-06-18 |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics|language=en}}

In Australia, vehicles that have reached their EOL are passed from owners to the auto recyclers directly or through an insurance company, car mechanics, or used car dealers.McNamara N. [https://www.issinstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ISS-FEL-REPORT-N-MCNAMARA-Low-Res.pdf Vehicle Recycling and Sustainability]. Melbourne, Australia: International Specialised Skills Institute Inc; 2009 In first stage of recycling, the car batteries and fluids are removed during the de-pollution process. In the second stage, the valuable and high demand vehicle parts are recovered from the vehicles and sold in the market for reuse. In last stage of the recycling process, the remaining parts of the vehicle are crushed and sent to metal recycling facilities to recover metals from the vehicle.{{Cite journal |last1=Soo |first1=Vi Kie |last2=Compston |first2=Paul |last3=Doolan |first3=Matthew |date=2016 |title=Is the Australian Automotive Recycling Industry Heading towards a Global Circular Economy? – A Case Study on Vehicle Doors |journal=Procedia CIRP |language=en |volume=48 |pages=10–15 |doi=10.1016/j.procir.2016.03.099 |doi-access=free}}

Printer ink cartridges are recycled through a program by the non-profit Cartridges 4 Planet Ark.{{Cite web |title=Cartridges 4 Planet Ark |url=http://planetark.org/programs/cartridges-4-planet-ark |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=planetark.org |language=English}} The program was founded in 2003 by Planet Ark with support from seven printer ink manufacturers, the program recycler Close the Loop and retailers.{{Cite web |last=WCMS |first=Webboy net |title=Cartridges 4 Planet Ark |url=https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/cartridges4planetark/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Recycling Near You |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |date=2019-08-01 |title=Collection Program |url=https://www.closetheloop.com.au/collection-program/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Close The Loop |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Recycling at Officeworks {{!}} Pen, Cartridge & E-Waste Recycling |url=https://www.officeworks.com.au/information/about-us/peopleandplanet/recycling |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=www.officeworks.com.au}} The program has diverted 51 million cartridges from landfill with over 4,000 drop off locations nationwide. Upon collection, cartridges are sorted and recycled into recycled inks, road surfaces, and eWood garden beds.{{Cite web |title=Data on exports of recyclables from Australia to China |date=11 May 2018 |website=blueenvironment.com.au |language=en |access-date=22 August 2023|first=Joe |last=Pickin |url=https://blueenvironment.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Exports-of-recyclables-from-Aust-to-China-v2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302081053/https://blueenvironment.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Exports-of-recyclables-from-Aust-to-China-v2.pdf |archive-date=2019-03-02}}

The majority of paint waste in Australia is recycled by the not-for-profit company Paintback. Since beginning operations in 2016, Paintback has recycled over 36 million kilograms of paint and packaging through 165+ drop-off locations.{{Cite web |title={{!}} Paintback |url=https://www.paintback.com.au/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=www.paintback.com.au}} The program is funded by a 15-cent per litre levy on products sold by Australia's major paint manufacturers.{{Cite news |date=2017-07-29 |title=Did you know you can recycle unwanted paint? |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-30/paint-recycling-scheme-diverting-millions-of-litres-of-paint/8752136 |access-date=2022-10-03}}

Chemical and hazardous waste recycling is promenade in Australia with most states having collection programs.{{Cite web |last=Cleanaway |date=2022 |title=Household hazardous waste |url=https://www.cleanaway.com.au/service/household-hazardous-waste/ |access-date=3 October 2022}} Once collected, chemicals are sealed in drums and are transported to a specialist waste treatment facility for recycling.{{Cite web |title=Dropping off your waste |url=https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/recycling-and-reducing-waste/at-home/dispose-of-household-chemicals-detox-your-home |access-date=3 October 2022 |website=Detox your Home Victoria}}

Coffee pods can be recycled through produces of the pods including companies like Nespresso which have organised collection points at their stores, and created campaigns to help reduce their disposal issues. Coffee residuals are used as compost and aluminium can be recycled into cans, aeroplanes, and consumer products.{{Cite web |title=Should you recycle your coffee pods? |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/science/earth/article/2016/02/02/should-you-recycle-your-coffee-pods |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=SBS|language=en}}

Clothes that are in good condition are encouraged to be donated at charity shops, donation bins or kerbside bagged collection.{{Cite web |last=WCMS |first=Webboy net |title=Planet Ark Recycling Near You – Clothing/Clothes/Textile Recycling |url=https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/pages/clothing |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=Recycling Near You |language=en-AU}} This extends the life of the clothing and reduces the need for recycling. In cases where textiles aren't able to be donated, recycling is preferred. In Australia, there are a range of textile recycling businesses, store drop-off programs, and reuse initiatives.{{Cite web |title=Where to recycle worn, stained and damaged clothes in Australia |url=https://asiki.com.au/blogs/news/where-to-recycle-worn-stained-and-damaged-old-clothes-and-textiles-in-australia |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=Asiki}}

In total, more than 800,000 tonnes of leather, rubber and textiles were discarded 2018–19 with a recycling rate of just 7 per cent according to the most recent National Waste Report.{{Cite web |title=Tackling Australia's textile waste |url=http://planetark.org/newsroom/news/tackling-australias-textile-waste |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=planetark.org |language=English}} Despite this low figure, donations are common with a rate of (on average) 12.1 kg of clothing textiles donated per person in Australia.{{Cite web |last=MRA Consulting Group |title=Measuring the Impact of the Charitable Reuse and Recycling Sector |url=https://www.charitablerecycling.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Charitable-Recycling-Australia-Recycled-Clothing-Impact-Assessment-240521.pdf |access-date=4 October 2022}}

In Australia, commercial and industrial (also large apartments buildings) recycling is collected by private waste management contractors, as business council rates don't cover waste and recycling.{{Cite web |title=Commercial waste collection in Sydney |url=https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/guides/businesses-waste-services |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=City of Sydney |language=en}} Excluding hazardous waste, it isn't compulsory to sort waste into different streams, however, it is more cost effective to recycle due to high fees associated with garbage collection. In the state of New South Wales, general waste often costs more than twice as much as cardboard recycling.{{Cite web |last=MacCathmhaoil |first=Aodhan |date=2020-10-06 |title=Business Waste Collection Services ✅ |url=https://waster.com.au/business-waste-collection-services/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Waster.com.au |language=en-US}}

Almost 33 million tones of C&I waste is generated each year in Australia, with 53% (over 17 million tonnes) recycled. Detailed breakdowns of C&I recycling are not recently available, but they cover similar types of materials as household recycling, as shown below.

*Overall recycling rate – not a total of the column.

File:Disability parking space and skip bin Marchant Park Kindergarten Delaware St Geebung P1060227.jpg

Construction sites usually don't sort their waste for recycling onsite, and instead dispose of it in a landfill or sort it offsite for recycling.{{Cite web |title=Construction and demolition waste recycling |url=https://www.mogroup.com/aggregates/solutions/construction-and-demolition-waste-recycling/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Metso Outotec |language=en}} For demolition sites, waste is sometimes sorted and sold for reuse – examples being roof tiles, bricks, and building fixtures.{{Cite web |title=How we make demolition sustainable |url=https://www.ecogroup.com.au/blog/how-we-make-demolition-sustainable |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Recycled Building Materials {{!}} Melbourne}}

In total, the Construction and Demolition (C&D) sector recycled almost 80% of the 29 million tonnes it generated, the highest recycling rate of the three sectors.

In cases where waste is sorted offsite, materials are recovered for resale and recycling at a materials recovery facility. Metals are recovered by a magnet, concrete, rock, stones and sand separated by trommels, timber is extracted, shredded and resold, bricks are separated and resold, and soil is cleaned and sold. The recycling process produces numerous different products that can be continued to be reused.

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• Circular economy
• Container deposit legislation in Australia
• Doughnut (economic model)
• Environmental issues in Australia
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