Country profile

Australia

Waste generation, collection, composition, treatment and policy statistics for Australia.

Indicator year 2021E. Asia & PacificHIC

Municipal waste generated540kg per person · 2021 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported value

Collection coverage98%2021 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · population coverage

Municipal recycling rate36.2%2021 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported treatment share

Uncollected waste—No published value

Open dumping—No published value

Sanitary landfill57.9%2021 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported treatment share

Waste composition

World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · 2021 · reported material shares

Food and organics38.6%

Garden and green waste34.8%

Metal9.8%

Glass7.7%

Paper and cardboard4.2%

Plastic1.8%

Wood1.6%

Other materials1.5%

Textiles0.1%

Rubber and leather0%

World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · 2021 · reported treatment and disposal shares

Sanitary landfill57.9%

Recycling in treatment mix36.2%

Composting5.7%

Other treatment0.2%

Incineration0.0%

National waste lawYes

National waste planNational Waste Policy Action Plan 2019

Responsible institutionThe Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Producer responsibilityYes

EPR operating statusLegally-binding regulations in place

Deposit-return systemYes