Produced by Planet Ark for National Week 2016 At a Glance

State of the Demographic A technology fix … Into the Nation … Diferences … › 25.5 million future … › 647kg › 57% Unwanted mobile phones in › 1,000 Annual kerbside created by ‘Committed’ recyclers who wrongly Number of products displaying every Australian recycle old drinking glasses (44% of the Australian Recycling Label ‘disengaged’ recyclers) › 80,000 tonnes › 90% E-waste recycled › 70% Of Australians think recycling › 48% though TechCollect Australians with is the right thing to do. 50-65 year old who know aerosol › 9 out of 10 access to container cans are recyclable (30% 14-24 deposits by 2018 Australians willing to pay › 13th year olds) Australia’s OECD recycling rank - extra for behind UK and ahead of USA High At work … Out In the Achievers … At home … › 72% Garage … › 406 tonnes Workplaces that recycle paper, 46% Plastic saved by redesigning Lipton › 8 out of 10 recycling cartridges, 25% mobile › 50 million Councils report plastic bags Ice Tea Bottle phones Tyres used in Australia as their biggest recycling problem › 150 million › $68,500 › 7 out of 10 Saved by Blackmores by changing › 150 million People unsure or not confident in Litres of paint and solvents Pieces of plastic diverted from waste disposal practices choosing between sheets of virgin sold in Australia landfill though REDGroup recycling and 100% recycled paper › 92.3% › 6% Recycling rate at Smiths manufacturing facilities Increase in people who Constructive know aerosol cans are › 62 tonnes recyclable Recycling … Mobiles recycled though › 55,000 tonnes › $2,000-3,000 Australia Post Office paper saved if every house Cost of land filling a used Naturale in one bathroom demolished house › 218,000 tonnes Bricks and concrete recycled by Bingo in six months

2 Contents

About this Report … 4 A Technological Fix ... 18 From the Printer to Newcastle 19 Forewords … 5 More Phones Than people 20 Naturale, 100% Recycled, 100% Soft 5 Get Into the Habit 21 Planet Ark, Willing to Pay 22 The State of the Nation 6 Out in the Garage … 23 Two Decades of Progress … 7 Treading More Lightly 23 Painting the Town Greener 23 At home … 8 Constructive Recycling 24 Where Does it Go 8 Scrunch and Recycle 9 Into the Future … 25 The Smallest Room 10 Right Label, Right Bin 25 The Right Think to Do 11 Leveraging Its Network 26 The Recycle Cycle 12 Depositing Less Litter 27 Garden Gold 13 Australian Packaging The Golden Rules Covenant of Kerbside High Achievers 28 Recycling … 14 Unilever 28 Doing It Blackmores 29 Diferently 15 Smiths Snackfood Company and Sakata Rice Snacks 30 At Work ... 16 Australia Post 31 The Benefits of Planet Ark Paper 17 Get Involved 32 References a

3 About This Report...

This report draws on information Acknowledgements and statistics from a wide range of internal and external sources and Planet Ark gratefully acknowledges the includes the results of independent support of our National Recycling Week research commissioned by Planet contributors, partners and sponsors Ark and conducted by Pollinate. including: 1007 Australians aged between 14 and 64 were surveyed online from Major Sponsor 23 September to 4 October 2016. • Naturale Toilet Tissue The sample was representative of Supporting Sponsors the Australian population in terms • Bingo Bins of age, gender and location. Data • The Australian Packaging Covenant is also drawn from a Planet Ark and its high performing signatories administered survey of 152 councils • The ‘Cartridges 4 Planet Ark’ across Australia as well as the Paper participating manufacturers – Challenge for which 130 consumers Brother, Canon, Epson, HP, Konica were asked to choose between Minolta, Oce and Kyocera and sheets of recycled or new paper. partner Close the Loop

Supporting Sponsors • MobileMuster • Australian Paper

Contributors Report Authors: Hasmukh Chand and Brad Gray. • REDCycle Photo Credits: Ryan Collins, Brad Gray, Bruce • Australia Post Usher and Mark Donaldson Photography. • TechCollect Design: Slade Smith.

4 Naturale is proud to be the Major It seems to be because we think Foreword Sponsor of the 21st National “recycled” paper is somehow inferior - 100% Recycled, 100% Soft Recycling Week. to virgin paper. Certainly this might have been the case years ago. It seems only natural to us that the best-selling recycled toilet tissue in The fact is, used and discarded every Australia should be aligned with an day office paper is a highly refined event of such national significance. and valuable resource that should never end up as landfill. With the latest Whilst we all do a good job of technology in play, it can be used to recycling so many things, we could make recycled tissue that’s almost definitely do better with further indistinguishable from new tissue. encouragement and indeed clarity about how to best go about it. Naturale is proudly Australian owned and predominately made at our That’s why a week of celebrating advanced recycling plant in Brisbane. recycling is such a smart idea and one The plant is FSC certified and currently that can benefit us all. produces more than 2.4 million packs In particular, Naturale hopes its of Naturale per year. Recycled toilet participation can help focus our tissue never felt this soft. behaviour on buying the by-products By choosing Naturale you can be of recycling, so we learn to more and confident you are taking positive more complete the “recycle cycle”. environmental action to complete the Toilet tissue is something we all use ‘recycle cycle’ and that’s going to and something we are probably all benefit all of us. guilty of taking very much for granted. Making good use of the by-products Together with Planet Ark we believe of the things we recycle is a no brainer it can be the gateway to better really. And if they happen to be environmental behaviour. Australian owned and made, then all It’s staggering to think that if we all the better. used 100% recycled toilet tissue in That’s the message Naturale hopes just one bathroom of our homes then to reinforce as an integral part of the together we would save 55,000 tonnes wonderful initiative that is National of paper every year. Enough to fill 100 Recycling Week. Olympic swimming pools! Loretta Lau Naturale Toilet Tissue But why don’t we? Brand Manager, ABC Tissue Products

5 In 2015, the World Economic Planet Ark STATE OF THE Forum estimated that a circular Foreword Nation economy could be worth $26 billion to Australia.

Australians are among of the most increased by just 28%2. Currently, the prolific consumers in the world. average Australian produces 647kg of per capita recycling rate in has increased 100% recycled and manufactured in municipal (kerbside) waste per annum3. Between 1996, when we launched from 1.0 tonnes to 1.2 tonnes4. Brisbane. Toilet tissue is one of the few National Recycling Week, and 2015, There have also been positive changes products that is found in every house Australia currently sits in 13th place on the waste generated in Australia too. Over 90% of Australians believe that in the country. It is also one of the most the OECD recycling rankings behind grew by 170%1, while the population recycling is the right thing to do and the common products made with recycled countries such as Germany, South material. Our endorsement aims to Korea and Britain and ahead of France, bring recycled toilet tissue into the the United States and Canada5. mainstream.

We recognise that recycling makes Second, is the launch of our own environmental and economic sense. Recycled and branded 100% recycled Planet Composted Waste We also see that it is an essential part Ark Paper. Workplaces are good at as % of Total Municipal Waste of the , in which waste recycling office paper but less good

70 is seen as a resource and used as the and buying it back. Our new paper aims input for further economic activities. to address this imbalance. 65 60 59 58 In 2015, the World Economic Forum Recycled paper makes both 50 at Davos estimated that a circular environmental and economic sense, 50 economy could be worth $26 billion to particularly when manufactured here in 40 43 6 41 Australia . A circular economy is already Australia. Throughout Recycling Week 39 38 35 showing localised benefits in Australia. we will be highlighting these benefits. 30 For example, for every 10,000 tonnes of Planet Ark would not be able to facilitate waste recycled, there are 9.2 direct full- 20 24 National Recycling Week without the 19 time equivalent jobs in Australia7. generous support of our great sponsors. 10 Which is why during our 21st National So I extend my personal thanks to them 5 as well as the many councils, school, 0 Recycling Week we are so pleased to Germany South KoreaAustria Sweden Britain Australia Norway France USA Canada Japan Mexico be launching two new initiatives that fit community groups and workplaces that within the circular model. get involved every year. Paul Klymenko First, is our new endorsement of the CEO Naturale Toilet Tissue range, which is Planet Ark

6 A lot has changed in the recycling Since then the range of products and Two Decades of sphere in the last couple of decades. materials that can be recycled has When National Recycling Week was grown significantly councils, state and launched in 1996 kerbside recycling federal governments, and industry had recently made its way into most all taking action to reduce waste and Action homes but the range of materials increase recycling. collected was limited, desktop computers were large, e-mail was new and smart phones were a decade away.

National Mobile Phone RecyclingNearYou Product Kerbside Industry launches Stewardship Recycling Recycling Act passed Strategy Program (now giving NSW $450m Concord MobileMuster) guidance Waste Less Council established for industry Recycle More introduces schemes program Queensland South organic Sydney National and Western Australia collection Olympics TV and Australia Container Australian achieves Computer Container Deposit Battery 77% Recycling Refund Scheme Recycling PaintBack recycling Scheme Scheme rate Initiative kick off 1977 1992 1993 1998 2000 2006 2008 2011 2012 2013 2016 2018

1980s 1993 1996 1999 2006 2007 2010 2011 2012 2014 2017

NT Container National Australian Recycling Deposit Tyre Packaging Standard for rate doubles Scheme Stewardship since 1990 Covenant bin colours Australia NSW established and markings rolls out Container Planet Ark to improve REDcycle Refund Launched recycling soft plastic Kerbside Scheme National ‘Cartridges recycling collections Recycling 4 Planet Ark’ BusinessRecycling program begin Week launched launches

7 Where Does Getting It Right It Go? Easy Does It

Knowing which items Commonly used and materially simple items like plastic bottles, can be recycled at aluminium cans, milk and juice cartons and glass jars are the kerbside is the correctly identified as recyclable. Even though 90% of people first step in recycling live in a council that accepts aerosols almost 1 in 2 people say right. Contamination they aren’t recyclable and a further 1 in 10 say they don’t know. At Home … in recycling bins is not always due to a lack It’s Complicated of care or concern More than 6 in 10 people incorrectly say by residents, but is Pringles tubes are recyclable. The materials often based on a used to make these tubes are too complicated Can You Put These Items In misunderstanding of to be separated and recycled. Your Kerbside ? what can be recycled. Stay Loose Don’t Know No Yes Almost 1 in 3 people say that both plastic bags and bread, pasta, rice and chip packets can go in the recycling bin. Councils identify these types of plastics as the biggest Recyclable at Home Not Recyclable at Home problem in the recycling system as they get caught in the sorting machines.

Plastic bottles 4 8 88 Pringles tubes 13 21 66 Into the Garbage Aluminium cans 5 10 85 Old/broken 9 37 54 drinking glasses More than 1 in 2 people think old drinkware Long-life milk & 5 12 83 Polystyrene 15 52 35 juice cartons glass is recyclable, however, as it is made from heat-tempered glass it prevents the recycling Glass jars 7 13 80 Bread/pasta/rice/ 9 60 31 chip packets of bottles and jars.

Pizza boxes 5 18 76 Plastic bags 7 63 30 Drop ‘Em Of Berry punnets 12 30 58 Old ceramics 22 54 25 A small but important minority of respondents incorrectly Aerosol cans Printer cartridges 12 48 39 14 70 16 think that printer cartridges (16%), batteries (13%) and mobile phones (12%) can go in their kerbside-recycling bins. Recycling Batteries 11 76 13 facilities are not able to identify and separate these materials

Mobile phones but they can be dropped off in free collection programs. 12 76 12

Nappies 12 80 8

Check out and follow Golden Rules of Kerbside Recycling 8 Scrunch and Recycle

For a household that recycles its paper Australia. The program is financially and containers and its food supported by some of Australia’s best and garden , soft plastics are known manufacturers, including the likely to be the most common material Planet Ark endorsed Naturale Toilet left in the garbage bin. Tissue.…

A soft plastic is any type of plastic that The plastic is reprocessed here in can be scrunched into a ball. Single Australia and made into furniture for use shopping bags are the most schools and kindergartens among obvious types of soft plastic but the other things. average household is filled with lots of other examples including bread, Since the program was launched in pasta, rice, lolly, cereal and frozen 2012, it has diverted more than 150 11 food bags, biscuit packets (wrapper million pieces of plastic from landfill . only), bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags and old green shopping bags.

The good news is these plastics can be recycled at many supermarkets. The Planet Ark’s bad news, as revealed in research done research showed for Recycling Week, is that only 22% of people know about the program! that eight out of ten

This free program is made possible councils consider through REDcycle, which has worked soft plastics in the with Coles and Woolworths/Safeway supermarkets to set up collection recycling bin as a bins in stores across most of metro- major problem.

Find a soft option near you 9 In the Bathroom

Despite almost all Australians (90%) living in a council that collects aerosols Planet Ark research found that less six out of ten people than one in five (18%) Australian households have recycling bins in the are probably not bathroom9. Just like kitchens, there are many products in the bathroom recycling them. that can be recycled. These include; aerosol cans, shampoo and conditioner bottles, soap packets (both soft plastic and paper) and the cardboard toilet paper rolls.

Australians purchase over 250 million aerosol cans each year10, many of these are used in the bathroom for products like deodorant and shaving foam, while others like spray oil and (48%) believe they are not recyclable and paint are used in the kitchen or shed. a further 12% ‘don’t know’ if they are. Planet Ark’s research showed that So six out of ten people are probably not aerosols are the most misunderstood recycling their aerosol cans. recyclable item in the house. On the positive side these figures Despite the fact that almost all represent a 6% improvement in people Australians (90%) live in a council that understanding that aerosols are recycle collects aerosols almost one in two since 2014.

Find out if you are among the 90% of Australian who can recycle aerosol cans. 10 It’s the 44% of Right Thing people say choosing to Do recycled paper is Toilet tissue is one of the few products introduced. Since that time, the paper that can be found in every house in making technology has improved good for the the country. It is also one of the most significantly. environment. common products made with recycled One in three (27%) people said they material: most supermarkets stock it. have never really thought about buying Planet Ark’s research found that one recycled toilet paper with one in two in five people (20%) say they always people (48%) under 24 reporting this as buy recycled toilet paper. Men (23%) the reason they don’t use it. are more likely than women (17%) to always buy recycled. Not surprisingly The Recycle Cycle people who have a greater concern for the environment are twice as likely to Almost every house in Australia and always buy recycled (41%). most workplaces have . Office paper, for example has a high The reasons people give for choosing recycling rate, but unless people are recycled toilet paper are: it’s good for purchasing products with recycled the environment (44%); and it’s the content the job is only being half done. right thing to do (33%). Choosing Australian made recycled toilet tissue helps divert waste from But there is significant room for growth local landfills, gives good quality paper in the recycled paper area. When asked a second use and supports local jobs. why they don’t buy recycled paper almost one in two (47%) people said the quality of recycled paper isn’t as good. Older people aged 50-64 were much more likely to have concerns about the quality (62%). This is likely a hang over from the 1980s and 1990s when recycled toilet paper was first

Find out more about recycled toilet tissue 11 Naturale Toilet The Tissue Is … Recycle FSC Certified Cycle

The making of RedCycle Program Naturale Toilet Tissue Partner

If every 100% Biodegradable Australian household Step One Step Two High quality office The high quality paper is used Naturale 5 paper is collected mixed with water to create Australian Owned Toilet Tissue from offices. pulp which is then cleaned in just though a series of filters. one bathroom Step Four they would Manufacturing temperatures over 400 save 55,000 degrees Celsius creates soft and hygienic tonnes of jumbo rolls that are then made into individual rolls. ofce paper every year. That’s enough paper to fill Step Three 100 Olympic Specialised rollers swimming remove moisture from pools! the fibres to form sheet paper in an elemental chlorine free process.

12 Garden Gold Addressing organic waste was It is estimated that 13 million tonnes level, reduce or eliminate these issues. seen as one of the organic11 material is sent to landfill For every tonne of organic waste each year. Much of the organic waste recycled, between 0.25 – 0.33 tonnes biggest issues by found in kerbside bins originates in of carbon dioxide are avoided14. the kitchen with Australian households two out of five throwing away $1,000 worth of food On a commercial scale, organic and councils. each year12. This represents a waste of food waste can be used to recover money, nutrients and all of the inputs valuable products such as phosphate 15 used to grow, distribute and process and soil conditioners . Organic waste the food including land, water, fertilizer can also be turned into mulches, potting and energy. mixes and garden soil as well. Some facilities are also capturing methane to It also has a number of direct negative use as a clean energy source16. environmental impacts, particularly the production of methane, a potent ‘heat- An increasing number of councils are trapping’ greenhouse gas with a global rolling out organic kerbside collections warming potential 25 times greater for either or both garden cuttings and than carbon dioxide13. Decomposing kitchen scraps. organic matter also produces leachate, an acid, which can leak from landfill sites into surrounding land and waterways.

Two out of five councils surveyed by Planet Ark identified addressing organic waste as the biggest waste priority over the coming years. Composting and worm farming, on both a household and commercial

Find out if your council provides a garden or food recycling Set up a bin or worm farm at home.

13 THE 6 GOLDEN RULES OF So you think you can recycle, right? Kerbside Recycling Follow these Six Golden Rules to make sure you’re doing the right thing.

1 Stay Loose 2 Easy Does It 3 Into the Recycling goes into the bin Paper, cardboard, glass Garbage loose – never in a plastic jars and bottles, metal Crockery, window and drink- bag, and keep other soft cans and aerosols, cartons ware glass, polystyrene, plastic plastic out too #. and rigid plastics are easy * bags, nappies and food are to recycle and accepted the big baddies in the recycling in almost all kerbside – put them in the garbage . collections. *

4 Keep It 5 Drop ‘Em Of 6 If in doubt Clean-ish Kerbside systems cannot Leave it out! Putting the separate items like mobiles, wrong thing in the wrong Recycling does not need computers, batteries and bin can ruin your good to be spotless – just printer cartridges – find local recycling efforts. scrape of solid food and drop off services . give it a quick rinse. *

BONUS RULE

These rules apply to almost everyone but of To find out what’s in and course some people have to bend ‘em! what’s out in your area visit * A handful of councils have special kerbside systems for these items. # Soft plastics and bags can be dropped off RecyclingNearYou.com.au at many supermarkets. or download the free App Buy It Back Look for Planet Ark Paper and Naturale Toilet Tissue to close the recycle cycle. 14 Interestingly people classified as committed Demographic were more likely than disengaged recyclers to make mistakes when faced with tricky Diferences questions. More committed recyclers (57%) Planet Ark’s research showed a say they always recycle drinking glasses number of differences between than disengaged recyclers (44%). Drinkware groups including: glass melts at a different temperature than bottles and jars so interferes with recycling. • Women (69%) are more Doing it Diferently … Similarly the committed (35%) are more likely willing than men (59%) to to always recycle ceramic plates than the recycle batteries at the supermarket. When it comes to recycling in Australia, came to individual behaviours that disengaged (27%). Ceramic interferes with there are some interesting dynamics have positive environmental impacts. . • Under 24s are more willing at play, particularly, when it comes to pay extra to ensure NSW EPA social research# showed I Always Recycle (Even Though I Shouldn’t) to behaviour and environmental batteries are recycled. there are differences between groups consciousness between men and 60 • More women (63%) than when it comes to recycling attitudes Drinking Glass women. Research by the NSW and behaviours. Almost everyone 57 men (53%) know that berry Government for example found that 45 Certamic Plate thinks they understand the recycling 44 punnets are recyclable in men showed ‘greater knowledge 35 process. People who would be 30 kerbside bins. of environmental issues’, however, 27 classified as resistant recyclers rate • More 50-64 year olds (48%) women were more likely to believe 15 their knowledge at 88%, while those than 14-24 year olds (30%) that their actions make a difference classified as committed rate theirs at 0 know that aerosol cans are to environmental outcomes’. Overall, 98%. However, all groups make some recyclable in kerbside bins. women outperformed men when it of the most common mistakes. Committed Disengaged • More 50-64 year olds (87%) The type of home a person lives in also impacts than 14-24 year olds (74%) Pro-Environmental Behaviours By Gender Men Women recycling. A key difference is the amount of time know that long life milk it takes to recycle. Only 16% of residents in and juice cartons can be 80 84 77 single unit dwellings (freestanding homes) take recycled at home. 72 66 longer than three minutes to take the recycling 60 62 • More metropolitan residents 57 56 58 51 54 out while more than double that number (33%) (39%) wrongly believe that 40 42 40 39 of multi-unit dwellings takes longer than three polystyrene can go in the 31 minutes. This time difference means that 20 kerbside-recycling bin than residents in units are more likely to report that rural residents (28%). 0 recycling takes considerable effort.

Re-use Buy fewer products Reduce water Reducethrown food out consumption Reduceconsumption energy Avoid plastic bags unneeded items friendly household Choose environmentally Check that you are doing the right thing and following the Golden Rules of Kerbside Recycling. 15 Changing Behaviour

Choosing Australian made recycled For recycling to be effective it office paper has environmental benefits depends upon efficient recycling in keeping waste out of local landfill systems being in place and sites and displacing imported paper people trained and willing to At Work... and the carbon emissions associated use them. One of the issues with shipping it into the country. It also with workplace recycling, has economic benefits in supporting especially in smaller businesses, Recycling at home is an ingrained habit Paper Go Round local green manufacturing jobs. is sourcing suitable services and for most Australians. Over the past educating staff. few years recycling in the workplace Even though paper is the most Planet Ark’s has improved but there is room for commonly recycled material in the BusinessRecycling.com.au a improvement. workplace choosing to use recycled Almost 7 in 10 office paper is still not commonplace. site provides both. By far, the most commonly recycled When asked why their workplace people (68.5%) material in the workplace, as didn’t use recycled paper almost one were unsure reported in the Planet Ark survey, is in two people (48%) said they didn’t’ paper (72%). Common packaging know. The other key reasons for not or not at all items are recycled by about half of using it were it was too expensive confident in workplaces. Printer cartridges are (15%) and it was of lower quality (13%) the most commonly recycled form of than new paper. choosing e-waste with just under half (46%) of workplaces reporting that they have a The quality issue is a hang over from between a program in place. More than a third of the early days of recycled office paper. sheet of virgin workplaces (36%) recycle computers The technology of paper production and accessories, and one in five (25%) has changed significantly over the past paper and recycle mobile phones. few years. a sheet of Workplaces can participate in free In a test of 130 people when asked to 100% recycled programs such choose between a sheet of 100% virgin as MobileMuster and ‘Cartridges 4 paper and a sheet of 100% recycled paper. Planet Ark’ to divert waste from landfill paper almost 7 in 10 people (68.5%) and as education and engagement were unsure or not at all confident in activities for their staff. their choice.

Make the switch to 100% recycled, carbon neutral, FSC certified and Australian made Planet Ark Paper. 16 Benefits of Made with Planet Ark Paper 100% Australian Planet Ark Paper is manufactured at Australian waste paper, keeping Paper’s Maryvale recycling plant which can it from local landfill. divert up to 80,000 tonnes of waste paper from Australian landfill. Choosing it is good for our local environment, the economy and you. Supports green manufacturing jobs here in Australia.

Paper is It’s Carbon FSC Neutral Certified contributing to reducing chain of custody your emissions for recycled paper.

Wrap The wrap is recyclable in kerbside and Reduces mixed paper bins.

arl.org.au emissions from shipping imported paper from overseas.

17 A Technology Fix …

Technology is everywhere these days, breaking down geographical barriers and while providing instantaneous access to information. One of the greatest challenges of living in such a ‘device-dominated’ world is their end of life cycle disposal. The United Nations estimated that over 40 million tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) was generated around the world in 201433.

Australians produce an estimated 25kg of e-waste each every year34 and they are increasingly using the range of industry led programs to responsible recycle that waste.

18 From a

Printer to Millions of printer cartridges are used Materials recovered from the recycling each year in Australian homes and process are being used to develop Newcastle workplaces. Cartridges are made up of TonerPaveTM, an environmentally a number of complex materials such as friendly additive for asphalt. plastics, toner, ink, metals and foam. TonerPaveTM has been found to reduce If sent to landfill, it is estimated that the carbon footprint of a road by 23%37. cartridges can take between 450 to Currently, over 200,000 tonnes of 1000 years to breakdown. TonerPaveTM have been used for roads in Australia38 enough to pave the road Research shows that one in three from Sydney to Newcastle and back. people (34%) are sending their used cartridges to landfill. This is despite the fact there are literally thousands of drop-off locations in retail outlets and workplaces.

Since 2003, ‘Cartridges 4 Planet Ark’ has diverted more than 32 million printer cartridges from landfill36. This is the equivalent of recycling over 14,000 tonnes of plastics, toners, metals and ink. Since 2003 Close the Loop has ‘Cartridges 4 Planet Ark’ is a great example of an extended producer processed more responsibility program as the than 32 million participating manufacturers - Brother, Canon, Epson, HP, Konica Minolta, cartridges with Oce and Kyocera – cover the cost of collecting and processing their sent to cartridges. landfill.

Find recycling options for home, school and work

19 More Phones Than People Recycling mobiles is easy.

Just over two decades ago, there • Recycling mobile phones for were roughly 600,000 mobile phones precious ore is environmentally in use in Australia37. According to friendly. One tonne of mobile phone new research, the number of old handsets could yield 340 grams of and unused mobiles being stored in gold.39 Australian homes has now grown to • For every tonne of mobile phone 25.5 million. On average, Australians materials recovered, 10 tonnes replaces their mobiles every 18 to of greenhouse gas emissions are 24 months. This means that for the avoided first time ever, there are more old and unused mobiles than there are people Recycling unwanted mobile phones in Australia38. The research also found is easy. MobileMuster, the mobile that 4 million of these mobiles phones industry-recycling program, is the are broken and no longer working. only government-accredited phone recycling service available in the Recycling these unwanted mobile country. It has around 8,000 recycling phones and accessories offers locations (including retailers and significant environmental benefits. Australia Post outlets) and accepts For example; phones, chargers, batteries and • Over 95% of the materials used in accessories. mobile phones and accessories can be recovered • Recovered materials can be used to make everything from stainless There are more to plastic pallets unwanted mobile • Recycling 50,000 handsets can remove the need to mine over 330 phones in Australia tonnes of precious ore than people.

Dig out and recycle your old mobiles and accessories 20 Get Into the Habit

Recycling of e-waste has seen a About half of respondents had three or massive growth since the 2012 launch more unused devices at home. of the National Television and Scheme, the first co-regulated The biggest barriers to recycling program to operate under the 2011 e-waste include: Product Stewardship Legislation. • Not knowing where to recycle (46%) Under this scheme manufacturers and importers of TVs take responsibility for • Concerns about data security (38%) recycling electronic waste. and

A key element of the legislation is • A few people (15%) even admitted that it levels the playing field between to being too lazy to bother. responsible companies and those As e-waste recycling locations become that will only take responsibility when established in the community and compelled. more people get into the habit of Research conducted by TechCollect, recycling computers, as they have a collection and recycling program with printer cartridges and mobile TechCollect has run by the not-for-profit co-regulatory phones, these barriers will begin to arrangement Australia and New Zealand fall. Choosing reputable recyclers and recycled over Recycling Platform, shows that despite deleting data before dropping it for 80,000 tonnes this growth in recycling there are still recycling are the best ways to remove of e-waste in the a number of significant knowledge security fears. four years since it gaps and barriers to increased TV and computer recycling. Almost everyone In the four years since it was was established. (95.7%) believed that e-waste recycling established TechCollect has recycled is important but almost one in every two more than 80,000 tonnes of e-waste. respondents (45%) admitted they didn’t That represents a huge environmental recycle their old electronics. and economic benefit.

Find TV and computer recycling services near you 21 Willing to Pay – Battery Recycling Unlike cartridges, mobiles and recycling. Almost one in two people computers, there is no industry-led (48%) were prepared to pay an extra recycling program for batteries. As a $1 to cover the recycling of a $50 Batteries are surprisingly common in 90% of Australians result of this, recycling rates are low, Australian households being found in laptop battery. Under 24s were the age sitting at around 5%41. Sending them to would be willing toys, electronic gadgets, remotes, alarm group most prepared to pay extra, with to pay extra for clocks and watches, handheld tools landfill represents a waste of resources 60% saying they would be willing to and cameras. Batteries come in two as well as introducing potential pay between $2.00 and $2.50. rechargeable forms – single use and rechargeable. toxic materials, like cadmium, to the Not surprisingly, two out of three people In Australia, it is estimated that over environment. Kerbside waste facilities batteries to cover (63%) said they were willing to drop 350 million handheld batteries are used are unable to separate them from other 42 their used rechargeable batteries off for their recycling. each year40. materials . recycling at a supermarket. Almost one Research carried out by Pollinate in two were willing to drop them off at for Recycling Week showed that hardware stores and public buildings consumers are willing to contribute (like libraries and council offices). to the responsible recycling of the Women (69%) were more willing than rechargeable batteries they purchase. men (59%) to recycle at a supermarket, Overall, 90% of Australians would be while people over 50 were more willing willing to pay extra for rechargeable than other age groups to use any of the batteries to cover their recycling. More suggested locations. than one in two people (56%) are willing to pay an additional 10c on a In the absence of a national industry- pack of 4 AA rechargeable batteries led program, retailers and councils are valued at $20 to cover their recycling. taking the lead in offering recycling The ABRI 65% of those people who say they options and the Australian Battery power tool battery trial are ‘extremely concerned’ about the Recycling Initiative (ABRI) is working in Brisbane environment are prepared to pay an with governments and industry to collected additional 50c to cover the cost of improve options. more than 2 tonnes of batteries for recycling.

Find local battery recycling options 22 Painting the Town Greener Out In the Half-empty tins of paint can be found in garages and sheds across Australia. Over Garage … 150 million litres of water and solvent-based paint was sold in Australia between 2012 and 48 Planet Ark found that only one in Treading More Lightly 2013 . Paint is a hazardous Keep paint three Australian households have product as it is made up out of the a recycling receptacle bin in the In 2013-14, over 50 million tyres were of components such as; environment. 44 garage43 or shed even though there used for passenger vehicles in Australia . acrylic plastic, thinners and are a number of recyclable items However, only 5% of tyres are currently solvents. Additionally, some found there including tyres, paint recycled in Australia and a large proportion types of paint (pre-1970s) can and building materials. are either sent to landfill, illegally dumped also contain lead in varying 45 or stockpiled . Tyres can have a range concentrations49. of environmental impacts including releasing toxic fumes when inappropriately Keeping paint out of landfill, Over 50 million tyres were used on passenger burnt, taking excess space in landfill and where it can leak and drain vehicles in 2013-14. providing breeding spaces for pests such directly into the environment, as mosquitoes46. is important in limiting its environmental impact. To address this poor recycling rate, Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) was launched PaintBack is the new industry in 2014. Around one in two respondents not-for-profit recycling who had recycled a tyre in the past 12 and safe disposal scheme months used a retail or council service. that launched in 2016. It is There is no shortage of tyres but finding establishing a network of markets for the outputs of the recycling permanent collection sites process is a significant issue. Therefore, across Australia and is funded a major focus of TSA is to find, and if by a 15c levy on the sale of necessary, develop these markets. Each eligible products between one passenger tyre is made up of 1.5kg of and 20 litres. steel, 0.5kg of textiles and 7kg of rubber47, which can be made into filler for road construction, paving material for basketball courts and artificial turf for soccer fields.

Find responsible recyclers for: Tyres and Paint

23 In Australia, it is estimated that over 20 million tonnes of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste are produced each year50. This includes waste generated from the demolition, destruction and excavation of homes Constructive and buildings. In six months Recycling Some of the most common C&D waste can include pipes, electrical wires, Bingo Bins concrete, sand and gravel, wood, recycled windows and door frames51. The cost of disposing of the material taken from 218,000 tonnes an average house is estimated to be of bricks and between $2000 to $300052. concrete. Of the 20 million tonnes of C&D waste produced in Australia, just over half is either recycled or recovered53. Much of the C&D waste can be turned into useful products. Bricks and concrete state of the art recovery centres like for example can be recycled into road the new Bingo Bins facility at Minto and paving materials, while steel which recycles up to 80% of C&D can be turned into the production of waste. Some materials are picked out reinforced concrete54. Plasterboards of the process by hand while magnets (gypsum) on the other hand can be pick up the ferrous metals, trommels ground and applied to soil to improve (rotating or shaking screens with its structure55. various size holes) separate rocks, stones and sand based on their size. C&D waste has a significant advantage over the municipal and industrial waste At the end of the process the newly streams in that it is generated from a separated materials are sold as mulch, relatively limited number of sites. It is garden beds, pipe bedding, road base also highly recyclable when sent to and many other uses.

Find C&D recyclers near you

24 Into The Future …

Right Label Tub Foil Lid Right Bin arl.org.au Almost everyone has had the Check locally experience of standing in the kitchen with a piece of packaging in hand wondering which bin it should go in. The Label is evidence based. In research done for Recycling Week Recyclability is determined by 2014 two out of three (63%) people combining the proportion of the said they looked on the pack for population with access to a kerbside recycling information. However, until system that collects particular materials recently there was no established as well as the technical recyclability of standard for on-pack recycling those items when they enter the sorting information. system. Robust tools like the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal a The Australian Recycling Label (PREP) are essential in ensuring the launched in late 2015 by Planet Ark, has Label provides accurate information. been designed to address consumer confusion and provide simple, on-pack Around a thousand different products disposal instructions for all the different currently display the label. Officeworks components of a pack. and Blackmores, the two early Label adopters, have more recently been joined by T2 Tea, Planet Ark Paper and Australia Post in displaying the Label.

Look for the Label and follow the instructions when disposing of packaging items. 25 Leveraging Its Network Five Million Capsule Postage and Counting Australia Post has teamed up with Nespresso to provide a postage More than 5 million printer cartridges With its unparalleled network of paid recycling option for their coffee have been collected through Australia capsules. Envelopes, which hold up to 4,000+ post offices and 15,000+ Post’s participating outlets. They’ve 130 capsules, can be purchased from street posting boxes Australia Post been turned into pens, rulers, Nespresso for $1.90 then dropped outdoor furniture and even roads. is perfectly positioned to make it into any post box. The aluminium and easier for Australians to collect and grounds are separated and recycled. return items that would otherwise go to landfill.

Mustering Zero Waste Mobiles Box Customers can pick up recycle What happens with tricky MobileMuster satchels at things like piles of pens, post offices. More than 71 unwanted leaver arch tonnes of phones, batteries files, old gloves and hair and accessories have been nets and more? They can collected since 2008. go into TerraCycle Zero Waste boxes - for sale from Australia Post – and be made into new products.

Mailing Satchel Paper for Recycling Program the Planet Australia Post’s products now feature Customers can complete the Australian Recycling Label meaning the recycling loop and pick customers can now easily recycle satchels up a ream of the new 100% free of charge. Find out more a recycled, FSC certified, carbon neutral and Aussie made Planet Ark Paper.

26 % of Australian Population Covered By CDS Depositing 100 80 Northern Territory Less Litter 60 40 2011 20 0 2010 2011 2017 2018

In 1977 South Australia became the first state to introduce a container deposit scheme; it Western was joined by the Northern Territory in 2011. The aim of the deposit is to reduce litter, Australia Launching mid which in turn increases recycling by providing Queensland an economic incentive for people to return 2018 Launching mid eligible containers. 2018 Generally speaking eligible containers in all jurisdictions will include drinks between 150ml and 3 litres that display the correct label. Plain milk, cordial, casks and wine and spirit bottles will be exempted from the schemes.

In 2015 the NSW government committed to launching a refund scheme on 1 July 2017. Since then the state governments New in Queensland and Western Australia have South committed to establishing their own schemes Wales by 2018 while the ACT is also considering one. Launching 1 July The implementation of these schemes means South Australia 2017 that in the space of around eight years the percentage of the population with access to 1977 ACT a refund program has increased from 7% in Container Deposit Under Consideration 2010 when SA was the lone state to more Schemes in Australia than 70% when NSW, Queensland and WA come on board.

Find out more about container refund schemes around Australia

27 Key Achievements Unilever • In 2015 Unilever achieved its goal of zero non-hazardous waste sent Australia to landfill across its manufacturing Unilever Australia received the APC award networks, warehouses and offices for Outstanding Achievement in Recycling. in Australia As a consistent high performing APC • Redesigned the 500ml Lipton Ice signatory, Unilever Australia has been Tea bottle, saving 343 tonnes of “While we are incredibly committed to packaging sustainability, PET and 60 tonnes of polypropylene proud of what we have waste reduction and education campaigns a year achieved over the last few The Australian Packaging Covenant to help increase recycling rates in • Removed the foil wrapping from years we know there is (APC) is a sustainable packaging Australia. Unilever’s goal to decouple Lipton Black Tea bags saving an initiative, which aims to change environmental impact and business still more to do to inspire growth while increasing its positive social estimated 41 tonnes of material a wide-scale movement the culture of business to design a year more sustainable packaging, impact are governed by its Sustainable and create a brighter Living Plan (2010). increase recycling rates and reduce • Created shorter ice-cream sticks future for our planet. for popular products like Gaytime packaging litter. Each year the Resource sustainability & Paddle Pop, saving 16 tonnes of Australian Packaging Covenant wood annually and eliminating waste are celebrates the waste, recycling and among our biggest global packaging achievements of their Key Actions challenges and tackling signatories and bestows awards • Reducing, reusing, recovering or these issues is not only the for ongoing commitment to drive recycling waste across its Australian packaging sustainability and meet right thing to do but it also operations through the goals of the APC. makes business sense. We’d packaging materials, converting like to see more businesses factory waste into soil and compost as well as using organic waste for across Australia to commit green energy generation to a zero waste model and work towards packaging > • Redesigning the packaging of Redesigning the Lipton Ice Tea and Black Tea bags solutions that will enable us to be more resource 500ml Lipton Ice Tea • Returning materials such as cardboard boxes and plastic rewind efcient. Collaboration bottle saved 343 tonnes cores to suppliers for is key to tackling these of PET and 60 tonnes • Developing guidelines that allowed unprecedented challenges.” of polypropylene Redesigning the Unilever to work with packaging Iced Tea bottle Clive Stiff engineers to design sustainable each year. saved 404 tonnes Chairman & CEO packaging materials of plastic a year. Unilever Australia & New Zealand

28 Blackmores

High At the 2016 Awards event Blackmores Key Achievements Performer was awarded APC Signatory of the Year. The award recognises the outstanding • In 2015, Blackmores’ Closed contributions of Blackmores’ Loop process has helped divert commitment towards achieving 3.3 tonnes of plastic, 56 tonnes of environmental sustainability across cardboard and 76,000 metres of four APC categories. These include: tape per annum packaging design and innovation, • The Closed Loop process has “Our focus on partner collaboration, employee helped Blackmores save $68,500 sustainability is a defining engagement and recycling and reuse. on waste disposal per annum part of who we are as an Blackmores has been a high performing • In 2015, Blackmores increased organisation. Maurice APC signatory for several years and led the amount of waste diverted from Blackmore, the pioneering landfill from 43% to 67% the way by continuously developing and naturopath and natural improving sustainability outcomes across its operations. Key Actions heath advocate who • In 2015, Blackmores was one of the founded Blackmores first companies to display Planet in the 1930s, had views Blackmores saved Ark’s Australian Recycling Label on recycling that were $68,500 per annum on on pack and used the Packaging considered radical at the Recyclability Evaluation Portal to time. He understood waste disposal. ensure disposal instructions were based on evidence that healthy people and a healthy planet are • Continuously reviewed and inextricably linked and assessed its packaging use against the Sustainable Packaging we have a passionate and Guidelines committed team who • Introduced a tamper ring that is continue to build on this secured to the product to keep it legacy.” from entering the waste stream and Richard Henfrey harming wildlife Blackmores Chief Operating Officer Blackmores was one of the first companies to • Installed a baler for plastics and a display the Australian compactor for cardboard, provided Recycling Label on pack. an organic for food scraps and trained staff on waste reduction and recycling

29 The Smith’s Snackfood High Company and Sakata Performer Rice Snacks

At this year’s awards event, Key Achievements PepsiCo’s Smith’s Snackfood “We are proud signatories to the Company and Sakata Rice • In 2015 Smith’s achieved a Snacks received the APC high recycling rate of 92.3% for their Australian Packaging Covenant, performer award in the Large manufacturing facilities and are always looking for Food and Beverage category. • Increased plastic recycling by 47% innovative ways to cut packaging The company’s commitment to up to 97 tonnes waste and to recycle. We use a packaging sustainability has been • Between 2014 and 2015, Smith’s lifecycle approach to improve recognised with several APC collected 655 tonnes of paper and awards in recent years. sustainability, such as reducing cardboard for recycling packaging material through design, responsible sourcing, Key Actions Smith’s increased improving efciencies in • Improved packaging efficiencies by manufacturing and distribution, plastic recycling optimising bag and carton sizes, and working collaboratively with by 47% up to 97 resulting in less packaging others in the supply chain. tonnes. • Ongoing engagement and education of team members about Recycling promotes the waste and litter reduction sustainable use of resources, • Collaborated with contractors to keeps waste out of landfills improve the separation of packaged and reduces greenhouse food waste gas emissions. By recycling, • Engaged a new contractor who each PepsiCo team member was able to accept a wider range of individually makes a diference plastics to our environment and helps • Exploring and testing bio-based, to deliver PepsiCo Performance Smiths office compostable films for packaging With Purpose.” recycling station. materials Janine Cannell PepsiCo ANZ Environment Manager

30 Australia Post High Performer At this year’s event Australia Key Achievements Post won the APC award for • In 2015, Australia Post reduced Outstanding Achievement in the volume of its waste sent to Packaging Stewardship. Australia landfill by 17% or 1,700 tonnes Post is an excellent example of “One of the great sustainability through collaboration • Achieved a total of more than 5 62 tonnes of mobiles have been opportunities we see as a recycled through Australia Post. with suppliers, customers and million printer cartridges recycled not-for-profits. Australia Post’s through the ‘Cartridges 4 Planet business is leveraging our unrivalled national network puts Ark’ program network to make it easier it in a unique position to act as • Recycled a total of 62.6 tonnes for Australians to collect an enabler for a range of Product of mobile handsets, batteries and and return items that would Stewardship Programs. chargers diverted from landfill otherwise go to landfill. For through MobileMuster example, we have recently Key Actions partnered with Nespresso to develop a prepaid satchel • Producing international mailbags using recycled polypropylene that allows their customers which are also recyclable to collect and return used aluminium cofee capsules to • Developing new recycled content be recycled simply by posting Australia Post has and recycled letter tray design which will significantly reduce the satchel in any street enabled customers landfill in 2017 posting box or any post ofce. to recycle more • Partnering with global recycler As companies increasingly than 5 million TerraCycle, enabling customers look for ways to reduce their printer cartridges to repurpose products such as environmental footprint toothbrushes, cosmetic items, Australian Post is perfectly through ‘Cartridges coffee capsules and satchels 4 Planet Ark’ and by redirecting them through its positioned to help them over 71 tonnes of network for recycling do this via our unrivalled mobile handsets, network.” batteries and Andrew Sellick chargers through Head of Environmental Sustainability MobileMuster.

31 Get Involved …

Planet Ark’s National Recycling It’s also a great time to get involved: Week is an annual opportunity for • Workplaces can host a individuals, workplaces, councils, Friday File Fling a governments and the industry to reflect on the question ‘So you think you can • Schools can participate recycle?’. Answering that question in the Schools Recycle Right give everyone a chance to think about Challenge a their beliefs and attitudes and make • Councils can run community sure their recycling efforts are having a events like MRF and facility tours positive impact. or Big Aussie Swap Parties a • Residents can look for local events a Facility tours are a great way to learn about recycling. References See the Recycling Week website for references from this report a

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