Australia has implemented several national programs aiming to increase the recycling of plastic waste. The country's Container Deposit Scheme has been in place since the 1970s and aims to incentivize consumers to return plastic bottles and aluminum cans for a 10-cent refund. This program has helped divert billions of containers from landfills, with recycling rates around 80% for eligible containers. At collection points across the country, consumers drop off their empty bottles and cans to receive their refund. The materials are then sorted and processed for reuse.
In addition, regulations introduced in the 2000s required plastic manufacturers to implement product stewardship programs. This placed responsibility on brands to manage end-of-life disposal of their products. As a result, many household plastic items like packaging, bags, wrappers, and other hard-to-recycle plastics can now be dropped off at collection points to be recycled rather than sent to landfill. National product stewardship organizations work with local councils and waste management services to coordinate collections and recycling.
Australia Recycled Plastic Bag Ban Sweeps The Nation
A major turning point occurred in 2018 when Australia began phasing out single-use plastic shopping bags across all states and territories. The federal government had advocated for a nationwide voluntary phase-out, but individual jurisdictions grew tired of waiting and started implementing their own bans. Within two years, lightweight plastic bags were prohibited or subject to a levy in every part of the country. Consumers were encouraged to switch to reusable bags, and penalties apply for retailers still providing single-use plastic bags without charge. Early results show bag consumption reduced by 80% compared to pre-ban levels.
Challenges In Processing Recycled Plastics
While Australia has made great strides in plastic collection, a key challenge remains in developing robust s for recycled plastic materials. Most collected plastics, after sorting and processing, still end up being exported overseas rather than used locally in manufacturing. This is due to limited reprocessing facilities and a lack of demand within Australia for recycled plastic resins. Without established demand, plastic recycling businesses struggle with unpredictable commodity prices that discourage long-term investments in advanced recycling technologies.
The types of plastics collected also present issues. Hard-to-recycle plastic films and multilayer packaging cannot be effectively processed with conventional methods. As these problematic plastics increase in waste streams, more innovative solutions are desperately needed for Australian recycling centers. Sustainable advances in recycling technology could help tackle these difficult materials and better utilize the national collection network already in place.
Support For Advanced Australia Recycled Plastics
Australian authorities recognize these challenges and continue supporting development of novel recycling technologies. The federal government's Research and Development Tax Incentive program funds projects researching chemical and mechanical recycling methods. One such project led by sophisticated separation technology company Anthropic received $3.5 million in funding to apply artificial intelligence optimization of sorting facilities. Their technology aims to analyze plastic types in real-time using machine vision and automatically adjust separation processes.
At a state level, New South Wales established its own four-year $35 million Recycling Modernization Fund in 2020. This program provides grants to foster new recycling infrastructure and pilots for advanced technologies, including plastic-to-fuel conversion plants. By funding advanced recycling solutions, the state hopes to breathe new life into its recycling sector and divert problematic plastics away from landfills or incineration. Similarly, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency invests in technologies to produce renewable fuels and chemicals from waste plastic feedstocks.
Getting plastic waste out of the environment also aligns strongly with Australia's national circular economy strategy launched in 2021. This 20-year policy framework aims to shift from a 'take-make-waste' economic model towards closed-loop resource management. As industries and researchers shift their focus towards recycling, reuse and eliminating waste at the source, promising solutions are emerging which could revolutionize Australia's long-term plastic management. With continued support and collaborative efforts across sectors, the country has clear potential to establish robust domestic s for recycled plastic content.
Progress Towards Sustainability
Although Australia still has strides to take, it has demonstrated commendable progress in curbing plastic pollution through national programs, policies, and targeted investments supporting advanced recycling. By addressing plastic waste with a multi-pronged approach of reducing consumption, improving collection systems, and fostering innovative technologies, the country serves as a model for others aiming to transition towards a circular economy. With higher recycled plastic demand and commercial-scale implementation of novel recycling methods on the horizon, Australia appears well-positioned to realize its sustainability vision.
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Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it