The Inside Waste Industry Report series of chapters offer valuable research and insights into Australia’s Waste and Resource Recovery landscape. Broken down into the following Chapters, released over time, each report provides detailed research, in-depth analysis and key findings on what is shaping the future of this industry.

This is the third iteration of the report, with the first delivered in 2011-2012, and the second from 2014-2015.

Chapter 1: Volume and Values

This ‘Volumes and Values’ Chapter focuses on numbers, providing key statistics on the volumes of waste produced and collected in Australia, in addition to the industry’s overall value, referring to data from the period of 2017-2018.

Key Findings Include:

• Overall value of Australian Waste and Resource Recovery Industry
• Comparison of value proposition from 2014-2015 period
• Average value per tonne of waste
• MSW recovery rates
• Total tonnes of waste generated
• Comparison of key findings state by state
• Analysis of commodity price impact on industry revenue

Chapter 2: Policy and Regulation

The ‘Policy and Regulations’ Chapter provides an overview of State and Federal policy and regulations in 2019, with analysis on how these updates came about, what they hope to achieve, and what work still needs to be done.

Key areas outlined include:

• Federal policies including the Federal Waste Package, National Waste Policy, Australian Packaging Covenant, Product Stewardship
• Global initiatives such as the Basel Convention
• Comparison of state-based policies such as CDS schemes and single-use plastics bans
• Overview of each State and Territory Framework, covering areas such as Energy from Waste, Circular Economy, Hazardous Waste, E-waste and an overview off state-based bodies, lists of relevant legislation, and more.

Chapter 3: The Role of Local Government

The “Role of Local Government” Chapter looks at the progress, challenges and sentiments of Waste and Resource Recovery at the council level. Using unique data gathered directly from councils from the end of 2019 to early 2020, questions mirrored where possible the last survey conducted in 2011-12 and 2014, allowing for an analysis of data over time.

Key Findings include:

• Update on GO and FOGO uptake, and survey of barriers
• Opinions on weight-based charging
• Preference on collection service frequency and bin-types
• Level of interest and barriers for uptake in services such as additional glass and paper bins, AWT and EfW
• Council staff and spending plans
• Data analysed Nationally, and also presented by State.
• List of participating councils, facilities, and contractor details including expiry years.

For the first time, the location of waste and resource recovery facilities was gathered to start a new initiative that will map Australia’s facility network. To view please CLICK HERE 

Chapter 4: Performance and Infrastructure in a Circular Economy

Chapter 4 is currently in progress, as an exciting initiative between Inside Waste, Manufacturers’ Monthly, Inside Construction and Roads and Infrastructure magazines.

In addition to providing an update on the previous report’s Performance and Infrastructure by State, the report will survey manufacturing and construction industries to better understand the markets for recovered materials.

The final report will provide an overview of the appetite and barriers to increased usage of recovered materials, and also look to map out the specifications and geography of demand.