❓ The WA parliamentary question addresses the destination, stockpiling, and processing capacity of plastic recyclable material recovered by WA local governments. The answer reveals a reliance on overseas export and limited local processing capacity, prompting the establishment of a Waste Taskforce.
AnsweredQoN 1574Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What is the ultimate destination of plastic
recyclable material recovered by Western Australia’s local governments? (2) Does this vary for different local governments and, if so, can the Minister provide a breakdown of destination by local government jurisdiction? (3) How much of the plastic recyclable material recovered by local governments is stockpiled versus processed, and is there is any backlog in recyclable material awaiting processing? (4) Has any plastic recyclable material recovered by Western Australian local governments been exported interstate or overseas and, if so, what in what volumes? (5) What is Western Australia’s capacity to process plastic recyclable material in both the State of Western Australia and can this capacity be referenced in each of our local governments areas?
recyclable material recovered by Western Australia’s local governments? (2) Does this vary for different local governments and, if so, can the Minister provide a breakdown of destination by local government jurisdiction? (3) How much of the plastic recyclable material recovered by local governments is stockpiled versus processed, and is there is any backlog in recyclable material awaiting processing? (4) Has any plastic recyclable material recovered by Western Australian local governments been exported interstate or overseas and, if so, what in what volumes? (5) What is Western Australia’s capacity to process plastic recyclable material in both the State of Western Australia and can this capacity be referenced in each of our local governments areas?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 September 2018
Responded by
Minister for Environment; Disability Services
Response time
9 days
(1) and (4) Recyclables collected from household kerbside recycling bins are transported to Material Recovery Facilities located within Western Australia. Recyclable material types are sorted and baled at these facilities for on-sale.
Envisage Works was engaged by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to quantify plastics recycling in Western Australia. Its results were reported in the 2016-17 Australian Plastics Recycling Survey - Western Australia State Data Report , tabled
[see paper no.#]
The Envisage Works report shows that a total of 13,100 tonnes of plastics were reported as recycled in Western Australia in 2016-17. The municipal sector accounted for around two thirds of Western Australia’s plastics recycling in 2016-17, while the commercial and industrial sector accounted for the remainder.
Data on plastic recycling end destination for the municipal solid waste stream is not specified in the Envisage Works report. However, for all waste streams in Western Australia, the Envisage Works report showed that of the 13,100 tonnes of plastics recycled in Western Australia in 2016-17, 8,300 tonnes (63 per cent) was directly exported overseas for reprocessing, 3,200 tonnes (24 per cent) was locally reprocessed for local use (within Australia) and the remaining 1,600 tonnes (12 per cent) was locally reprocessed for export.
The Envisage Works report also shows that for both plastics (13,100 tonnes) and rubber (14,100 tonnes) combined, 19,500 tonnes (72 per cent) was sent overseas, 5,200 tones (19 per cent) was processed within Western Australia, 1000 tonnes (4 per cent) was sent to South Australia, 800 tonnes (3 per cent) to Victoria and 600 tonnes (2 per cent) to New South Wales. The Envisage Works report does not present data on end destination by jurisdiction for plastics alone.
(2) Information about the final destination of recyclable material collected from individual local governments is not held by the Department. Recyclables collected from individual local governments are transported to Material Recycling Facilities where the recyclable materials are typically mixed with those from other local governments. The recyclable materials are then sorted and baled for sale. Sale of the sorted and baled materials is controlled by the Material Recycling Facilities operator rather than individual local governments.
(3) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation does not currently collect information specifically about the quantities of stockpiled plastic recyclable materials at Material Recovery Facilities.
(5) The Envisage Works report identified that there were four plastic reprocessors in Western Australia in 2016-17. Two of these reprocessors, however, did not process any plastics in 2016-17. The two reprocessors that did process plastics in 2016-17 processed a total of 7 polymer types, including HDPE. There was no local reprocessing of PET in 2016-17.
The report does not provide information on the location of reprocessors by local government district.
I have established a Waste Taskforce to provide advice to me on short, medium and long-term options to increase local recycling (including recycling of plastics). Options identified will, over time, support less reliance on global markets for recycling.
Envisage Works was engaged by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to quantify plastics recycling in Western Australia. Its results were reported in the 2016-17 Australian Plastics Recycling Survey - Western Australia State Data Report , tabled
[see paper no.#]
The Envisage Works report shows that a total of 13,100 tonnes of plastics were reported as recycled in Western Australia in 2016-17. The municipal sector accounted for around two thirds of Western Australia’s plastics recycling in 2016-17, while the commercial and industrial sector accounted for the remainder.
Data on plastic recycling end destination for the municipal solid waste stream is not specified in the Envisage Works report. However, for all waste streams in Western Australia, the Envisage Works report showed that of the 13,100 tonnes of plastics recycled in Western Australia in 2016-17, 8,300 tonnes (63 per cent) was directly exported overseas for reprocessing, 3,200 tonnes (24 per cent) was locally reprocessed for local use (within Australia) and the remaining 1,600 tonnes (12 per cent) was locally reprocessed for export.
The Envisage Works report also shows that for both plastics (13,100 tonnes) and rubber (14,100 tonnes) combined, 19,500 tonnes (72 per cent) was sent overseas, 5,200 tones (19 per cent) was processed within Western Australia, 1000 tonnes (4 per cent) was sent to South Australia, 800 tonnes (3 per cent) to Victoria and 600 tonnes (2 per cent) to New South Wales. The Envisage Works report does not present data on end destination by jurisdiction for plastics alone.
(2) Information about the final destination of recyclable material collected from individual local governments is not held by the Department. Recyclables collected from individual local governments are transported to Material Recycling Facilities where the recyclable materials are typically mixed with those from other local governments. The recyclable materials are then sorted and baled for sale. Sale of the sorted and baled materials is controlled by the Material Recycling Facilities operator rather than individual local governments.
(3) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation does not currently collect information specifically about the quantities of stockpiled plastic recyclable materials at Material Recovery Facilities.
(5) The Envisage Works report identified that there were four plastic reprocessors in Western Australia in 2016-17. Two of these reprocessors, however, did not process any plastics in 2016-17. The two reprocessors that did process plastics in 2016-17 processed a total of 7 polymer types, including HDPE. There was no local reprocessing of PET in 2016-17.
The report does not provide information on the location of reprocessors by local government district.
I have established a Waste Taskforce to provide advice to me on short, medium and long-term options to increase local recycling (including recycling of plastics). Options identified will, over time, support less reliance on global markets for recycling.
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