National Agenda
Australia should treat recycling waste as a resource
A report from EY estimates Australia could generate up to $328m worth of recyclable material each year if world-class recycling systems are implemented.
- We must start treating our waste as a tradeable commodity, like iron ore or gold, rather than just waste, says EY report
- The current system also leads to poor environmental outcomes, as huge amount of potentially recyclable waste end up in landfill
- The main issue is the contamination of potentially-recyclable material in co-mingled recycling bins
Takeout
The EY report recommends better education about contamination, making it more convenient to recycle, improving sorting and developing new markets for recyclable materials. Brands can also become part of this greater movement, and reap the economic benefits at the same time through recovering material from their products, services or processes.Source: The Guardian - Australia could reap $328m a year if it treated recycling waste like coal
