Recycling Activity in South Australia 2006-07

Overview: In 2006–07 2.43 million tonnes of materials, ranging from asphalt to textiles was diverted from landfill to recycling in South Australia. This was up from the 2.40 million tonnes recycled in 2005-06 and is an increase in tonnes of material recycled of 1.6%. The SA diversion rate increased (0.6%) and the SA per capita recycling rate is the highest for any State (exceeded only by the ACT). The waste to landfill figure has dropped from 2005-06 to its lowest level in the last 4 years. The highest recorded reprocessing quantities, by weight and in decreasing order, were concrete, steel, timber, fly ash and garden organics. Recycling activity in South Australia continues to trend upwards. As the population continues to grow, the recycling and reprocessing industry needs to grow with it. A unknown proportion of the apparent decrease in recycling from 2004–05 to 2006–07 is due to the modification of the reprocessor survey to specifically identify and exclude any recyclate material generated interstate or overseas which is then imported for reprocessing in South Australia. In 2006–07 there was 70 757 tonnes of these recyclate materials imported into South Australia for reprocessing or 2.8% of total local reprocessing. These materials were mostly fly ash (38 987 tonnes), glass (18 000 tonnes) and steel (8 349 tonnes).