Recycling activity in South Australia 2018-19
Prepared by Rawtec for Green Industries SA. Based on a survey of 117 organisations, compiled to the National Guidelines for waste and recycling data. Published May 2020.
Summary published
The 2018-19 edition of the state’s annual recycling count. South Australia diverted 83.8% of its waste material from landfill, recovered 4.34 million tonnes, and buried 840,000.
This was the year China’s National Sword policy was still reshaping what could be sold and where.
Overall diversion rate, up from 83.6%
Resource recovery
Estimated market value
Of recovered material reprocessed within SA
What the survey found
The headline numbers
Resource recovery 4.34 million tonnes, down 3.4% on 2017-18. Landfill 840,000 tonnes, down from 881,000. Diversion rate 83.8%, up slightly from 83.6%. Recovery fell but disposal fell faster, which is why the rate improved.
Masonry, soil and organics are 84% of it
Masonry 1,394 kt (32%), soil 1,216 kt (28%), organics 1,040 kt (24%), metals 329 kt (8%), cardboard and paper 229 kt (5%), glass 74 kt (1.7%), plastics 31 kt (0.7%) and other materials 27 kt.
China's National Sword is in the data
Recovered cardboard and paper fell 7,300 tonnes and plastics shifted towards energy recovery. Glass went the other way, up 14,000 tonnes. Organics fell 59,100 tonnes, with timber down 10% and meat rendering down 15%.
Sector diversion rates
Construction and demolition produced 2,778,000 tonnes at a 90% diversion rate. Commercial and industrial 1,162,000 tonnes at 87.2%. Municipal solid waste 398,000 tonnes at 52.4%. The gap between the last one and the other two is the whole story.
Per person
Resource recovery 2,475 kg per person per year, landfill 480 kg, and waste generation for standard reporting materials 2,170 kg. South Australia had the country’s highest diversion rate and also its highest per capita waste generation at 2,961 kg.
Kerbside was 46% recovery
648,000 tonnes collected at the kerb: 350,900 residual (54.2%), 164,700 organics (25.4%) and 132,400 recyclables (20.4%). Metropolitan councils recovered 49%, regional councils 37%.
Value and jobs
Total market value $348 million, down from $356 million. Metals $174m, organics $96m, cardboard and paper $39m, masonry $15m. 1,638 full-time equivalent staff plus 212 casual or contract, on estimated revenue of $622 million.
Against the 2020 state targets
840,000 tonnes including contaminated soil is a 33% cut from the 2002-03 baseline, against a 35% target. Excluding contaminated soil it is 675,000 tonnes, a 45% cut.
2,170 kg per person per year is a 4.3% increase on 2014-15, against a target of a 5% reduction.
Municipal 57.0% against a 70% target. Commercial and industrial 88.2% against 80%. Construction and demolition 91.4% against 90%.
86% recycled within South Australia, 7% interstate and 7% overseas. Energy recovery 124,666 tonnes, up from 116,600.
Related reports
The following year’s edition, and the organics analysis.
The full report includes the reporting accuracy estimates for each material stream.
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