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Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2012-13ISSN 1836-9901

Contact DetailsSustainability Victoria(03) 8626 8700

Published by Sustainability VictoriaLevel 28 Urban Workshop50Lonsdale StreetMelbourne Victoria 3000Australia.October 2015

While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, Sustainability Victoria gives no warranty regarding its accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose and, to the extent permitted by law, does not accept any liability for loss or damages incurred as a result of reliance placed upon the content of this publication. This publication is provided on the basis that all persons accessing it undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content.

The Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2012-2013 should be attributed to Sustainability Victoria.

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Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2012-13

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Contents

1. Executive summary....................................................................................................................... 7

2. Introduction................................................................................................................................. 11

3. Total materials recovered for recycling.........................................................................................14

4. Metal.......................................................................................................................................... 22

5. Construction and demolition materials..........................................................................................24

6. Paper / Cardboard....................................................................................................................... 27

7. Organics..................................................................................................................................... 29

8. Glass.......................................................................................................................................... 32

9. Plastic......................................................................................................................................... 35

10. Rubber..................................................................................................................................... 37

11. Textiles..................................................................................................................................... 39

Appendix A Survey methodology.....................................................................................................41

Appendix B Materials recovered for reprocessing............................................................................43

Appendix C Participating reprocessors.............................................................................................46


Figures

Figure 1 Resource recovery rate of solid waste, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13.........................................................7

Figure 2 Total waste generation relative to economic and population trends, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13...............7

Figure 3 Waste generation, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13.......................................................................................8

Figure 4 Recovery of Food organics, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13.........................................................................9

Figure 5 Source sectors of secondary-use material received for reprocessing (by weight), excluding imports, Victoria 2012-13...........................................................................................................................................10

Figure 6 Metropolitan and Regional material recovered in Victoria, 2012-13.........................................................10

Figure 7 Flow of material for reprocessing, Victoria 2012-13................................................................................12

Figure 8 Resource recovery rate of solid waste, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13.......................................................14

Figure 9 Waste generation, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13.....................................................................................14

Figure 10 Total waste generation relative to economic and population trends, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13...........15

Figure 11 Composition of material recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13.................................16

Figure 12 Source sectors of secondary-use materials received for reprocessing (by weight), excluding imports, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12...........................................................................................................17

Figure 13 Material reprocessed and exported overseas or interstate, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13........................19

Figure 14 Recovered material exported overseas and interstate by material type.................................................19

Figure 15 Recovered material remaining in Victoria by material type (excl. Glass and Construction and demolition material)...........................................................................................................................................20

Figure 16 Composition of metals recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12...............22

Figure 17 Metals recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13...........................................................23

Figure 18 Source sectors of scrap metal received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.....23

Figure 19 Composition of construction and demolition material recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.......................................................................................................................24

Figure 20 Construction and demolition material recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13..............25

Figure 21 Source sectors of construction and demolition material received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.......................................................................................................................26

Figure 22 Composition of paper and cardboard recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.................................................................................................................................................... 27

Figure 23 Paper / Cardboard recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13.........................................28

Figure 24 Source sectors of paper and cardboard received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.................................................................................................................................................... 28

Figure 25 Organic material recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13............................................29

Figure 26 Composition of organic material recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.29

Figure 27 Food organics recovered for reprocessing 2003-04 to 2012-13............................................................30

Figure 28 Garden organics material recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13...............................31

Figure 29 Source sectors of organic material received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-1231

Figure 30 Composition of glass recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.................32


Figure 31 Glass recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13............................................................33

Figure 32 Source sectors of glass received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12................34

Figure 33 Composition of plastic recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12...............35

Figure 34 Plastic recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13...........................................................36

Figure 35 Source sectors of plastic received for reprocessing, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12...............................36

Figure 36 Composition of rubber recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12...............37

Figure 37 Rubber recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13..........................................................38

Figure 38 Source sectors of rubber received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12..............38

Figure 39 Composition of textiles recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12...............39

Figure 40 Textiles recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13.........................................................40

Figure 41 Source sectors of textiles received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.............40


Tables

Table 1 Total waste generation relative to economic and population trends – past ten years, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13...........................................................................................................................................15

Table 2 Total material types recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.......................................16

Table 3 Total material types recovered for reprocessing – past ten years, Victoria 2012-13 and 2003-04...............17

Table 4 Source sectors of material received by reprocessors, Victoria 2012-13....................................................18

Table 5 Summary of end products for reprocessed plastics.................................................................................21

Table 6 Total metals recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12............................................................................22

Table 7 Total construction and demolition material recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12................................24

Table 8 Total paper and cardboard recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12......................................................27

Table 9 Total organic material recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12..............................................................30

Table 10 Total glass recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12............................................................................33

Table 11 Total rubber recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12..........................................................................37

Table 12 Total textiles recovered in Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.......................................................................39

Table 13 Total material types recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13........................................43


1. Executive summaryIn 2012-13 Victoria’s reprocessing sector continued to increase its material recovery, reaching over 8 million tonnes and achieving a recovery rate of 71%. This represents an increase of 2 percentage points from the previous year [Figure 1].

The above, coupled with increased efficiencies in waste and resource recovery infrastructure and processes have helped Victoria retain its mantle as one of the leading states performing above the national average of 60%1.

Figure 1 Resource recovery rate of solid waste, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

Figure 2 shows that both waste generated per capita and waste generated per each million dollars of Gross State Product (GSP) have continued to decline over the past two years – yet another signal that Victorians are becoming more efficient with regard to material recovery and waste avoidance.

Figure 2 Total waste generation relative to economic and population trends, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

1 Waste Generation & Resource Recovery in Australia 2010-11


54% 55%60% 62% 61% 64% 66% 68% 69% 71%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Rec

over

y R

ate

1.94 1.97 2.03 1.99 1.96 1.93 2.09

2.28 2.11 2.03

38.0 38.0 38.7 37.4 36.1 35.8 38.6

44.6 40.1 38.4

-

10

20

30

40

50

60

0.0

0.4

0.8

1.2

1.6

2.0

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2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Was

te p

er $

mill

ion

GS

P (t

onne

s)

Was

te p

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apita

(ton

nes)

Waste generated per capita Waste generated per $million GSP

The amount of waste being sent to landfill reduced for the second year in a row, falling by 7% to 3.37 million tonnes in 2012-13 compared with 3.61 million tonnes in 2011-12 [Figure 3], whilst the amount of waste diverted from landfill for recycling increased from 8.01 million tonnes to 8.07 million tonnes.

Figure 3 Waste generation, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

Despite the challenges posed by the fluctuating global commodities market and other factors, Victoria’s resource recovery industry has demonstrated resilience, with growth in particular streams (e.g. Construction & Demolition and Rubber) and declines in others (e.g. Glass and Paper / Cardboard).

1.1 Key increases in materials recovered for reprocessingAfter dropping by 16% between 2010-11 and 2011-12, recovery of Construction and Demolition material (the material category, not the source sector) increased by 14% in 2012-13, totalling 3.98 million tonnes.

The increasing local market for gypsum – which is used in agriculture and domestic gardens to increase water retention in soil – has assisted the recovery of Plasterboard which increased by 14% in 2012-13 to total 39,000 tonnes.

For the third year in a row, recovery of Food organics – sourced almost entirely from the Commercial & Industrial sector and consisting of bi-products from the manufacture of dairy, confectionary, bread and other food stuffs – increased by 79% to 55,000 tonnes in 2012-13. This increase is largely due to additional tonnages reported by a new organics reprocessors and is indicative of the volatile nature of food organics reprocessing; the recovery of which has fluctuated constantly since collection of this data commenced in 2003-04 [Figure 4].


0123456789

10111213

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es (m

illio

n)

Recovered waste Landfill waste

Figure 4 Recovery of Food organics, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

1.2 Main decreases in materials recovered for reprocessingIn 2012-13, recovered Metal dropped to 1.39 million tonnes. Same recovery rate as in 2010-11, but 6% shy of the 1.47 million recorded in 2011-12.

For the second year in a row the recovery of Car bodies in 2012-13 fell to 77,000 tonnes, a decrease of 13%. This continues a downward trend that followed a peak two year period of 153,000 tonnes and 135,000 tonnes collected in 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively.

Industry sources suggested that this spike in recovery was due to low prices of new cars post-global financial crisis coupled with high global steel prices; this decrease for 2012-13 correlates directly with a slump in international steel prices and a downturn in the local industry.

Paper / Cardboard recovered in Victoria decreased by 16% in 2012-13 to 1.39 million tonnes, and while this may appear to be a significant decrease, it’s the second largest annual recovery since records began. Part of this decrease can be attributed to a 6% decline in exports of recovered paper and cardboard.

1.3 Sources of material

The Victorian Recycling Industry Annual Survey is a survey of reprocessors and as such, collects its data at the end of the waste system before the material becomes a product. This means that although it cannot specify the point-of-origin of materials, it provides a good indication of where recovered material is managed.

Of the material received for reprocessing during 2012-13, 85% was sourced from industry, up from 81% in 2011-12. A total of 58% was received from the Construction & Demolition sector which increased its share by 14 percentage points and 27% came from Commercial & Industrial operations which were down by almost 10 percentage points on the previous year [Figure 5].

The contribution of the Municipal sector, primarily sourced from kerbside collections, was down 4 percentage points to 15%.

84 % of material recovered in Victoria in 2012-13 remained in the State for reprocessing, while international exports of waste material recovered in Victoria were down from 15% in 2011-12 to 14% in 2012-13 with a small quantity going interstate.


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es ('

000)

Figure 5 Source sectors of secondary-use material received for reprocessing (by weight), excluding imports, Victoria 2012-13

Figure 6 shows that even though the bulk of all material recovered in Victoria ends up in Melbourne for reprocessing or export, more than a quarter of this material is reprocessed in regional Victoria.

Figure 6 Metropolitan and Regional material recovered in Victoria, 2012-13

Note: Due to a lack of data granularity, it is assumed for the purposes of the above graph that all plastics are sent to the

Metropolitan area for reprocessing or export.


Municipal15%

Commercial & Industrial

27%

Construction & Demolition

58%

Regional27%

Metro73%

Recovered material managed in Victoria, metropolitan and regional

2. IntroductionEach year, Sustainability Victoria collects detailed data on the Victorian reprocessing industry through a voluntary industry-wide survey. The Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey provides the central source of information to monitor Victoria’s recycling industry performance.

As well as monitoring the performance of Victoria’s reprocessors and the amount of solid waste diverted from landfill, the survey:

provides an understanding of the current and historical state of materials recovery and reprocessing across a number of sectors and material types

is used to measure the performance of Victorian government strategies

communicates the achievements of industry to government, business and the community, and

demonstrates the benefits of recycling to industry and the public at large.

Recycling and reprocessing are well established activities in Victoria. The reprocessing industry recovers a wide range of recyclable material from the waste stream for reuse in the production of commodities such as metals, concrete, plastics, glass and compost. Materials recovered by the reprocessing industry are predominantly from within Victoria, with a small amount received from interstate. Although Victoria’s current reprocessing capacity is predominantly local, some waste material is exported interstate or overseas for reprocessing [Figure 7].


Figure 7 Flow of material for reprocessing, Victoria 2012-13

Of the 8.07 million tonnes of material that was recovered in Victoria in 2012-13:

1.5% of the material was received from interstate

No material was imported from overseas

14% of the material was exported overseas

less than 1% of the material was sent interstate, and

84% of the material remained in Victoria.

Material for reprocessing is sourced from three sectors across Victoria: Construction & Demolition (C&D), Commercial & Industrial (C&I), and Municipal.

The primary reprocessing industries in Victoria are:

smelters and foundries of steel, aluminium and other non-ferrous metals

crushing plants and auxiliary screening of concrete, brick, asphalt and related materials

Paper / Cardboard and de-inking pulp mills

composting facilities

glass product manufacturers


rubber product manufacturers, and

plastics converters and processors.

These and other reprocessing operations make a significant contribution to the Victorian economy in employment and investment, and generate substantial cost savings in the production of more affordable (but usually similarly effective) recycled materials. Among the environmental benefits of reprocessing materials are:

reduced greenhouse gases (methane emissions) from landfill and energy-intensive primary production processes,

savings in water and electricity in production, using recycled feedstock, of metals, concrete, paper and glass,

savings of raw materials, for example mineral ores used in virgin metal production and timber and oil used in paper production, and

reduced groundwater and soil contamination from landfill, and the preservation of landfill space.

The Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2012-13 was conducted in September and October 2013 and sought data from 70 Victorian reprocessors, excluding 46 plastic reprocessors surveyed as part of the 2012-13 National Plastics Recycling Survey2. A total of 64 reprocessors, or 91% responded, estimated between them to account for more than 95% by weight of all material recovered in Victoria.

Although Sustainability Victoria has sought to verify information provided in survey returns with individual reprocessors, it is not possible to validate all of the data in this report.

Survey findings are subject to the accuracy of data provided by individual reprocessors, and caution is advised when comparing data. For more information on the survey approach, please refer to the detailed methodology in Appendix A.

2Sustainable Resource Use, 2012-13 National Plastics Recycling Survey


3. Total materials recovered for recycling3.1 Recovery and trendsIn 2012-13 Victoria’s resource recovery rate increased by 2 percentage points to reach 71% [Figure 8].

Figure 8 Resource recovery rate of solid waste, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

The amount of waste being sent to landfill reduced for the second year in a row, falling by 7% to 3.37 million tonnes in 2012-13 compared with 3.61 million tonnes in 2011-12 [Figure 9], whilst the amount of waste diverted from landfill for recycling increased from 8.01 million tonnes to 8.07 million tonnes.

Figure 9 Waste generation, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

In 2012-13, waste generation per capita fell to 2.03 tonnes, a decrease of 3.7% on the previous year. The amount of material recovered per capita also fell 1.7% to 1.43 tonnes. Waste generation relative to Gross State Product (GSP) fell 4.3% in 2012-13 to 38.4 tonnes of waste generated for every million dollars of GSP [Figure 10] [Table 1].


54% 55%60% 62% 61% 64% 66% 68% 69% 71%

0%

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2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

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2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

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Recovered waste Landfill waste

Figure 10 Total waste generation relative to economic and population trends, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

Note: Historical figures have been recalculated and updated using rebased GSP figures sourced from the ABS and population

figures sourced from the Department Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

Table 1 Total waste generation relative to economic and population trends – past ten years, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

Report year 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13

TonnesWaste generated per capita

1.94 1.97 2.03 1.99 1.96 1.93 2.09 2.28 2.11 2.03

TonnesWaste generated per $million GSP

38.0 38.0 38.7 37.4 36.1 35.8 38.6 44.6 40.01 38.4

Tonnes (million)Total Waste Generation 9.59 9.84 10.27 10.28 10.29 10.30 11.33 11.95 11.63 11.44

3.2 Composition of material

The types of solid material recovered for reprocessing in 2012-13 is presented in Figure 11. Construction and demolition waste accounted for 44% of all material recovered for reprocessing by weight.


1.94 1.97 2.03 1.99 1.96 1.93 2.09

2.28 2.11 2.03

38.0 38.0 38.7 37.4 36.1 35.8 38.6

44.6 40.1 38.4

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Waste generated per capita Waste generated per $million GSP

Figure 11 Composition of material recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13

A summary of material recovered in Victoria for reprocessing in 2012-13 is presented in Table 2. Tonnage data for each material type recovered for reprocessing in the past 10 years is presented in Appendix B.

Table 2 Total material types recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

Material Type

Total recovery in

Victoria 2012-13

Total recovery in

Victoria 2011-12

Change since

2011-12

Tonnes (‘000) Tonnes (‘000) (%)

Construction and demolition 3,985 3,502 14%

Metals 1,390 1,470 -6%

Paper / Cardboard 1,394 1,665 -16%

Organics 916 978 -6%

Glass 167 195 -14%

Plastic 152 149 2%

Rubber 64 49 31%

Textile 4 5 -22%

Total 8,071 8,014 1%

Note: Percentage change has been based on actual figures rather than the rounded figures shown above.

After dropping by 16% between 2010-11 and 2011-12, recovery of Construction and Demolition material increased by 14% in 2012-13, totalling 3.98 million tonnes.

In 2012-13, recovered Metal dropped to 1.39 million tonnes, the same result as in 2010-11 but 6% shy of the 1.47 million recorded in 2011-12.

Paper / Cardboard recovered in the State decreased by 16% in 2012-13 to 1.39 million tonnes, and while this may appear to be a significant decrease, it’s the second-largest annual recovery since records began. Part of this decrease can be attributed to a 6% decline in exports of recovered paper


Construction and demolition waste

50%

Metal waste17%

Paper waste17%

Organic waste11%

Glass, Plastic, Rubber and Textile waste

5%

and cardboard.

Table 3 shows that over the past ten years, the recovery of each material category has increased, in many cases beyond 100%. The one exception to this is the recovery of Textiles, which industry sources indicate is partially due to a decrease in the recovery of waste emanating from the textile manufacturing industry.

Further information and analysis of recovery levels for each material type is provided in Sections 4 to 11 of this report.

Table 3 Total material types recovered for reprocessing – past ten years, Victoria 2012-13 and 2003-04

Material Type

Total recovery in

Victoria 2012-13

Total recovery in

Victoria 2003-04

Change since

2003-04

Tonnes (‘000) Tonnes (‘000) (%)

Construction and Demolition 3,985 2,618 52%

Metals 1,390 1,032 35%

Paper / Cardboard 1,394 850 64%

Organics 916 445 106%

Glass 167 86 94%

Plastic 152 96 58%

Rubber 64 11 502%

Textile 4 4 4%

Total 8,071 5,143 57%

Note: Percentage change has been based on actual figures rather than the rounded figures shown above. The decision to

compare current data with data from ten years ago reflects increased and continuous improvements in data quality up until 2005-

06.

3.3 Sources of recyclables

With the exception of imports sourced from unknown sectors, 58% of all material received for reprocessing in Victoria during 2012-13 came from the Construction & Demolition sector [Figure 12]. The combined industry sectors (Commercial & industrial and Construction & Demolition) accounted for 85% of all recovered material, up 4 percentage points from the previous year.

Figure 12 Source sectors of secondary-use materials received for reprocessing (by weight), excluding imports, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12.


Table 4 details the estimated tonnages of material recovered in Victoria for reprocessing from each source sector and material imported for reprocessing from interstate and overseas.

Table 4 Source sectors of material received by reprocessors, Victoria 2012-13

Recovered from Victoria

Recovered from

interstate

Material Type Municipal

Commercial &

industrial

Construction &

Demolition Imports

Tonnes (‘000)

Construction and Demolition 25 62 3,898 –

Metal 283 963 143 24

Paper / Cardboard 627 767 – 26

Organic 453 435 28 36

Glass 116 48 3 18

Plastic 66 82 4 7

Rubber 3 61 – 7

Textile 3 1 – –

1,576 2,419 4,076 118

Note: Figures reported for the material received by source sector have been extrapolated to include the relative proportions derived from reported data and applied to surveys that did not provide a source sector for the different material types and the export data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These proportions were not applied to imports. Figures reported in the table have been rounded to the nearest thousand and individual columns may therefore not add up to the totals reported elsewhere.

3.4 Reprocessing and exportsThe survey results enable comparisons between the quantities of material recovered for reprocessing in Victorian plants and those exported interstate or overseas for reprocessing. While exports have increased steadily over the past three years, Victoria’s current resource reprocessing is still predominantly local [Figure 13]. The key materials exported are scrap metals, paper and plastics, all globally traded commodities used in recycling operations worldwide.

Lower value materials such as waste from construction and demolition activities, garden organics and glass fines are rarely, if at all, exported as it is financially prohibitive to do so.


Municipal15%

Construction & demolition

58%

Commercial & industrial

27%

2012-13

Municipal19%


44%


37%

2011-12

During 2012-13, over 6.93 million tonnes of recovered material remained in Victoria to be reprocessed in local plants. This represents an increase of 8% over the 6.84 million tonnes reprocessed locally in 2010-11, and accounts for 86% of all recovered material.

By contrast, material exported from Victoria for reprocessing decreased by 3% to 1.13 million tonnes, the second-highest annual Victorian waste export tonnage ever recorded.

The increase in recovered material being exported overseas is in large part due to an increased Chinese demand for paper and cardboard material, coupled with an ever increasing global paper price. It is believed that most of the recovered material that is currently exported had previously been going to landfill with a proportion of it coming from stockpiles.

Figure 13 Material reprocessed and exported overseas or interstate, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

Note: The two data sources in the above graph combine to create a cumulative total.

The following graphs depict the materials that are sent overseas and interstate for reprocessing [Figure 14] and the proportion that remains in Victoria [Figure 15].Glass and Construction & Demolition material has been excluded as none is exported for reprocessing.

Figure 14 Recovered material (tonnes) exported overseas and interstate by material type.


0

1

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5

6

7

8

9

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es (m

illio

n)

Recovered material remaining in Victoria Recovered material exported overseas & interstate

Figure 15 Recovered material (tonnes) remaining in Victoria by material type (excl. Glass and Construction and Demolition material)

3.5 Product marketsOnce reprocessed, materials are directed into different markets according to quality and degree of processing required. Commonly reprocessed industrial materials, such as metals and rubber, are generally sold into the manufacturing industry for production of new metal or rubber products.


2,000 12,000 23,000

89,000

400,000

614,000

-

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

Textile Organic Rubber Plastic Metal Paper

2,000 41,000 63,000

783,000

904,000 986,000

-

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

Textile Rubber Plastic Paper Organic Metal

Recovered glass and paper are usually manufactured back into glass and paper. Although paper can be recycled seven or eight times before it loses its ‘recyclability’, glass bottles and jars can generally be recycled indefinitely.

Material from the Construction and Demolition industry is usually directed back into the construction industry as recycled concrete, brick and rubble, which are used in building the load-bearing ‘base’ layers of roads and pavements.

Organic waste is processed at licensed facilities where it is turned into composted soil conditioner and mulch products. Often these materials are then blended with other soil products to be sold by nurseries or used in the landscaping industry. More recycled organic products are now being used in high-value applications such as intensive horticulture and viticulture.

Plastics recovered from the waste stream are reprocessed into an ever-growing range of valuable packaging, construction, household and automotive goods. The 2012-13 National Plastics Recycling Survey listed the main products derived from Australian plastics reprocessing operations [Table 5].

Table 5 Summary of end products for reprocessed plastics

Plastics ID code Polymer Major uses

1 PET Beverage bottles

2 HDPE Film, blow moulded containers, pipes

3 PVC Pipe, floor coverings

4 L / LLDPEFilm (including building and agricultural film, concrete lining, freight packaging, garbage

bags, shopping bags), agricultural piping

5 PP Crates, boxes and plant pots

6 PS Bar chairs and industrial spools

6 EPS Waffle pods for under slab construction of buildings

7 ABS / SAN Injection moulded products

7 Polyurethane Carpet underlay

7 Nylon Injection moulding compound

7 Other and mixed Agricultural piping

Source: Sustainable Resource Use, 2012-13 National Plastics Recycling Survey


4. Metal4.1 Recovery and trendsAfter achieving a record high tonnage of 1.47 million tonnes in 2012-13, Victoria’s scrap metal recovery fell by 6%, totalling 1.39 million tonnes.

As expected, Steel (including packaging steel) made up the largest proportion of Victoria’s recovered metals, falling by 7% [Figure 16] but still reaching a total of 1.13 million tonnes.

Although up to 7,000 tonnes from 4,000 tonnes in 2011-12, the recovery of Batteries has continued its downward trend since reaching a record high of 37,000 tonnes in 2009-10, which is largely due to reprocessing of batteries shifting interstate. As this survey is of Victorian reprocessors, it is not currently possibly to account for the flow of waste batteries out of Victoria.

In 2008-09 Aluminium (incl. cans) dipped to its lowest annual recovery since the 1990s. Since then, this highly valuable and infinitely recyclable material has continued a steady upward trend, reaching just short of 93,000 tonnes. The bulk of this (64,000 tonnes) was exported overseas and almost half of it (29,000 tonnes) was exported to China (see 3.4 Reprocessing & Exports).

This increase in recovery could be partially due to a spike in global scrap aluminium prices to as high as $US2,100 per tonne in 2012-13 after dropping as low as $US1,700 in the 2011-12 financial year.

The recovery of car bodies has again diminished in 2012-13 [Table 6] and trends indicate a steadying in recovery in the wake of the post GFC new car boom.

Figure 16 Composition of metals recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

Table 6 Total metals recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

Category Total recovery in Victoria 2012-13

Total recovery in Victoria 2011-12

Change on previous

yearTonnes (‘000) Tonnes (‘000) (%)

Aluminium (incl. cans) 93 57 62% Batteries 7 4 68% Car bodies 77 89 -13% Non-ferrous 78 92 -15% Other & mixed metals 3 9 -65% Steel (incl. packaging steel) 1,131 1,220 -7%


Aluminium (incl. cans)

7%

Batteries<1%

Car bodies6%

Non-ferrous6%

Other & mixed metals<1%

Steel (incl. packaging

steel)81%

2012–13Aluminium (incl. cans)

4%

Batteries<1%

Car bodies6%

Non-ferrous6%

Other & mixed metals<1%

Steel (incl. packaging

steel)83%

2011–12

Total 1,390 1,470 -6%

Figure 17 illustrates that, despite significant fluctuations over the past ten years, metal recovery in Victoria has remained steady since 2009-10.

It should be noted that as the global markets for individual metals operate independently from each and as such, any in-depth of Victorian metal recovery should involve considering individual metal categories in isolation.

Figure 17 Metals recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

4.2 Sources of recyclablesThe Commercial & industrial sector remains Victoria’s principal source of recovered metals, accounting for 69% of material received for reprocessing across the State; a decrease of 4 percentage points from 2011-12 [Figure 18]. Material sourced from the Municipal sector increased by 6 percentage points to 283,000 tonnes and contributed 21% of all Victorian metals recovered.

There were no recovered metal imports reported by any Victorian metal reprocessors in the 2012-13 financial year.


0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es (m

illio

n)

Figure 18 Source sectors of scrap metal received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

5. Construction and demolition materials5.1 Recovery and trendsConstruction and demolition materials accounted for 50% of all material recovered in Victoria in 2012-13, increasing its share by 6% and totalled 3.98 million tonnes.

After dropping by 16% in 2011-12, total recovery increased by 13% or just under half a million tonnes in 2012-13 [Table 7].

Table 7 Total construction and demolition material recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12



Change on previous year

Tonnes (‘000) Tonnes (‘000) (%)Asphalt 258 229 13%Brick / brick rubble 370 350 6%Concrete 1,985 1,829 9%Mixed construction and demolition 495 243 103%Plasterboard 39 34 14%Rock / excavation stone 773 723 7%Soil / sand 67 93 -28%Total 3,985 3,502 14%

The recovery of every Construction & Demolition material category increased except for Soil & sand, which was down by 28%.

Brick / brick rubble, Rock / excavation stone and Concrete all went up by single digits, rising by 6%, 7% and 9% respectively. Concrete alone accounts for 50% of all Construction & Demolition material with nearly two million tonnes recovered in 2012-13 [Figure 19].


Municipal21%


10%


69%

2012–13

Municipal15%


11%


73%

Imports (overseas & interstate)

1%

2011–12

Figure 19 Composition of construction and demolition material recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

The more significant increases came from Asphalt (13%), Plasterboard (14%) and Mixed Construction and Demolition waste which more than doubled in quantity from 2011-12. Although seemingly significant, this increase in Mixed Construction and Demolition waste is indicative of the processing of mixed material to create a blended product used for road sub-base and drainage.

This innovative use of low value material provides numerous benefits to the construction industry by alleviating the need for time-intensive and costly source separation.

As well as significantly contributing to the reduction of waste to landfill across the State, the use of recycled concrete eases the electricity and water demands of conventional concrete production, cuts the cost of on-site processing and disposal into landfill for the Construction & Demolition sector, and potentially provides more affordable inputs for civil and commercial construction.

Figure 20 shows that recovery of Construction & Demolition material has steadily increased over the past ten years.

Figure 20 Construction and demolition material recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13


Asphalt 7%

Brick whole / brick rubble

9%

Concrete 50%

Mixed construction and demolition

waste 12%

Plasterboard 1%

Rock / excavation stone 19%

Soil / sand 2%

2012-13 Asphalt

6%Brick whole / brick

rubble10%

Concrete52%Mixed construction

and demolition waste

7%

Plasterboard1%

Rock / excavation stone21%

Soil / sand3%

2011-12

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es (m

illio

n)

5.2 Sources of recyclablesThe vast majority of Construction and Demolition material recovered in Victoria (98%) is sourced directly from construction and demolition activity [Figure 21], which provides a steady stream of Concrete, Brick rubble, Asphalt, Rock and Excavation stone. However, facilities located close to the Melbourne CBD or urban renewal areas traditionally receive demolition waste while facilities near growth areas (such as South Morang and Fisherman’s Bend) receive a greater proportion of construction waste.

Figure 21 Source sectors of construction and demolition material received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12


Municipal 1%


98%


1%

2012-13

Municipal2%


96%


2%

2011-12

6. Paper / Cardboard6.1 Recovery and trendsThe amount of paper and cardboard recovered in the state decreased by 16% in 2012-13 to 1.39 million tonnes, down from 1.66 million tonnes in 2011-12 [Table 8]. While this may appear to be a significant decrease, it’s the second-largest annual recovery since records commenced in 2003-04.

Part of this decrease can be attributed to a 6% decline in exports of recovered paper and cardboard.

While exports across most Paper / Cardboard categories were down in 2012-13, Newsprint / Magazines exports increased by 36%. However, this doesn’t account for the 51% increase in the recovery of Newsprint / magazines overall, up from 123,000 tonnes in 2011-12 to 185,000 tonnes in 2012-13.

Other (mixed paper) which accounted for 70% of all paper and cardboard recovered in Victoria in 2011-12 was more than halved, dropping by 58% to account for 35% of the total [Figure 22].

This reduction is entirely attributable to the disaggregation of reported tonnages from a major reprocessor and has resulted in an increase of more than double in the recovery of Cardboard / paper packaging, from 278,000 tonnes in 2011-12 to 635,000 tonnes in 2012-13.

While this disaggregation does provide a greater level of detail, it also significantly affects trend analysis of both the aforementioned material categories.

Figure 22 Composition of paper and cardboard recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

Table 8 Total paper and cardboard recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12



Change on previous


Cardboard / Packaging paper 635 278 129% Newsprint / Magazines 185 123 51% Other (mixed paper) 485 1,157 -58% Printing & Writing paper 89 107 -18%Total 1,394 1,665 -16%


Cardboard / packaging paper

46%Newsprint/magazines11%

Other (mixed paper)35%

Printing & writing paper5%

2012–13

Cardboard / packaging paper

17%

Newsprint/magazines7%

Other (mixed paper)70%

Printing & writing paper6%

2011–12

Figure 23 indicates that with the exception on 2011-12 (which can be largely attributed to a spike in exports), recovery or Paper / Cardboard has remained relatively static over the past ten years.

Figure 23 Paper / Cardboard recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

Note: Figures for periods 2004-05 and 2005-06 were over reported and the amounts have not been able to be verified.

6.2 Sources of recyclablesPaper and cardboard reprocessed in Victoria comes from several different sources, with retailers and industrial facilities traditionally supplying much of the cardboard and paper packaging, while commercial collections from offices and schools account for most printing and writing paper. In 2012-13, the Commercial & industrial sector contributed 54% of the State’s recovered paper and cardboard, down from 58% the previous year [Figure 24].

The proportion of recovered paper and cardboard sourced from overseas and interstate was significantly diminished, falling from 10% to 2% in 2012-13.

Figure 24 Source sectors of Paper and Cardboard received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12


0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es (m

illio

n)

Municipal44%

Commercial &

industrial54%


2%

2012-13

Municipal32%


58%


10%

2011-12

7. Organics7.1 Recovery and trendsOrganic recovery in Victoria fell by 6% in 2012-13, totalling of 916,000 after reaching an all-time high of 978,000 tonnes in 2011-12 [Table 9]. This is largely due to increased kerbside organics collections across the State and more recently, increased rainfall. The recovery of Organics has followed an upward trend for the past ten years [Figure 25].

Figure 25 shows that since 2003-04, organics recovery, although fluctuating, is generally trending upwards. Identifying trends in this waste stream poses numerous challenges, among them taking into account the impact of natural forces such as long-term drought and legislated water restrictions.

Figure 25 Organic material recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

41% of the Organic material recovered in the state is composed of Garden organics that is primarily sourced from municipal kerbside collections [Figure 26]. After falling to 22,000 tonnes in 2010-11, in the past year the recovery of Food organics increased by 79%, from 31,000 in 2011-12 to almost 55,000 tonnes in 2012-13. This is consistent with historical fluctuations.


0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es ('

000)

Figure 26 Composition of organic material recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

A holistic picture of the recovery of Food organics in Victoria is difficult to ascertain, as much of it is utilised directly by the manufacturing sector which – unlike the companies that are primarily involved with recycled material – has not traditionally had a data sharing relationship with government.

As a result of this, the reporting of the recovery of Food organics has followed a tumultuous path over the past ten years [Figure 27] and the 79% increase in the recovery of this material over the past year can be predominantly explained by the introduction of previously unattainable data [Table 9].

Figure 27 Food organics recovered for reprocessing 2003-04 to 2012-13

The Other & mixed organics category, representing mixed organic material along with manure and sludge, has fallen by 5 percentage points representing 14% of total organic recovery in 2012-13. Sawdust & other forestry residuals continued to rise steadily, increasing by 2 percentage points to 17% in 2012-13.

The two wood and timber categories combined to equate to 18% of all organic recovery in Victoria for 2012-13, and increased overall by 6%.


Food organics3%

Garden organics 41%

Other & mixed organic waste14%

Sawdust & other forestry residuals

17%

Wood & timber (other than packaging)

13%

Wood & timber pallets / packaging

5%

2012–13

Food organics3%

Garden organics 51%

Other & mixed organics

19%

Sawdust & other forestry residuals

15%

Wood & timber (other than packaging)

3%

Wood & timber pallets / packaging

9%

2011–12

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es ('

000)

Table 9 Total organic material recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12



Change on previous


Timber 129 112 15% Food organics 55 31 79% Garden organics 448 500 -10% Sawdust 157 150 5% Other organics 127 185 -31%Total 916 978 -6%

Despite a reduction in collection in the past year, quantities of garden organics, which are mainly collected by councils, continue to trend upwards. Figure 28 shows that – with the exception of 2007-08, a year of severe drought – garden organics have trended upwards since 2005-06, coinciding with the expansion of the ‘three bin’ system – for general waste, recyclables and green organics – which has encouraged householders to divert more green organics from landfill.

Figure 28 Garden organics material recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

Note: Garden organics figures for 2003-04 and 2005-06 have been updated to more accurately reflect tonnes recorded in the Local Government Data Collection Survey 2003-04 and Victorian Local Government Data Collection 2005-06 reports.

7.2 Sources of recyclables

The Municipal sector decreased its overall share of recovered organic material, falling from 56% to 49% of the total, while material sourced from the Commercial & industrial sector virtually increased in kind, going up by 6 percentage points to virtually reach parity with the Municipal sector as the key source of organic recovery [Figure 29].


0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es ('

000)

Figure 29 Source sectors of organic material received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12


Municipal49%


3%


48%

2012–13

Municipal56%


2%


42%

2011–12

8. Glass8.1 Recovery and trendsThe quantity of glass recovered for reprocessing in Victoria in 2012-13 fell by 14%, reaching a total of 167,000 tonnes and virtually equalling the total recovery for 2005-06.

Mixed glass accounted for 86% of the total [Figure 30] and decreased by 5 percentage points to 143,000 tonnes, while recovery of Sheet / laminated glass increased by 5 percentage points to 24,000 tonnes [Table 10].

Based on historical records, it can be assumed that Mixed Glass Waste is dominated by glass containers (Mixed glass waste only came into effect as a category in 2007-08)3.

Although the recovery rate for Glass reported as being recovered for recycling in Victoria is 76%, it is estimated that this figure could in reality be as low as 52%4 as much of this material is lost through the collection and sorting process.

As construction companies increasingly get used to the idea of blending recycled products into their building materials, glass sand has become an easy and viable way of recycling a product that could not otherwise be utilised. This has sparked an increase in the number of Victorian reprocessors accepting glass fines. Additionally, it is currently unknown how much glass recovered for reprocessing is being stockpiled.

Figure 30 Composition of glass recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

3 See Appendix B, Table 13.4 Emerging Materials Market Analysis, Hyder Consulting 2014, commissioned by Sustainability Victoria


Mixed glass 86%

Sheet glass 14%

2012-13

Mixed glass 91%

Sheet glass9%

2011-12

Table 10 Total glass recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

Report Category Total recovery in Victoria 2012-13


Change on previous


Mixed glass 143 178 -20%Sheet glass 24 17 41%Total 167 195 -14%

Note: Due to a change in reporting methodology by a major glass reprocessor in 2010-11, the Glass containers category has been

completely subsumed within Mixed Glass Waste.

Figure 31 shows that although reflecting a slight downturn in 2012-13 glass recovery has remained relatively steady since 2005-06.

Figure 31 Glass recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

8.2 Sources of recyclablesBoth the Municipal and Commercial & industrial sectors contribution to the glass received for reprocessing during 2012-13 diminished by 1 percentage point to 69% and 29% respectively, with Construction & Demolition contributing the remaining 2% [Figure 32].

The Commercial & industrial sector has steadily increased its contribution to glass recovery in recent years, contributing the majority of Sheet glass recovered in the form of windscreens, broken windows, and off-cuts from the manufacture of glass products.


-

50

100

150

200

250

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es ('

000)

Figure 32 Source sectors of glass received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12


Municipal 69%


2%


29%

2012-13

Municipal70%


30%

2011-12

9. Plastic9.1 Recovery and trends During 2012-13 the Recovery of plastic for reprocessing in Victoria increased by 2% to 152,000 tonnes. Victoria remains Australia’s leading plastic recycling state responsible for reprocessing roughly half of the national total, and home to nearly half of Australia’s plastic reprocessors. Domestic and industrial packaging accounts for 68% of all recovered material in Victoria [Figure 3].

In 2012-13 the Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey sourced its plastics reprocessing data from the Sustainable Resource Use (SRU) National Plastics Recycling Survey which was previously managed by the Plastics and Chemicals Industry Association (PACIA).

Figure 33 Composition of plastic recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

Figure 34 indicates that the recovery of plastic has gradually increased since 2003-04, with a large jump in 2008-09 and continuing into the current reporting period. As well as improved collection systems, industry sources suggest that much of this increase can be attributed to growing public awareness of the importance of recycling and also increased investment in plastic recycling technology and better quality raw materials that require less effort and expense to recycle.


Domestic and industrial packaging

70%

Non-packaging30%

2012-13

Domestic and industrial packaging

68%

Non-packaging32%

2011-12

Figure 34 Plastic recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-135

9.2 Sources of recyclablesThe influence of Victoria’s large manufacturing sector meant the majority of plastics recycled during 2012-13 were sourced from the Commercial & industrial sector [Figure 35]. Most of the remaining plastic comes from food and domestic packaging collected by Victoria’s councils, which now collect virtually every type of plastic bottle and container (types 1-6).

Figures calculated from the Victorian Local Government Annual Survey 2010-11 and 2008 Kerbside Garbage Composition: Recent Findings indicate that the recovery rate of plastic from Victoria’s municipal kerbside collection service is roughly 65%.

Figure 35 Source sectors of plastic received for reprocessing, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

5In 2009 the National Plastics Recycling Survey changed its reporting period from a calendar year to a financial year basis.


-

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es ('

000)

Trendline - two year moving average

Municipal41%


3%


51%


5%

2012-13

Municipal43%


2%


52%


3%

2011-12

10. Rubber10.1 Recovery and trendsIn 2012-13, 64,000 tonnes of rubber were reported as being recovered in Victoria, an increase of 31% from the previous year [Table 11] and 73% of this recovery consisted of Rubber tyres [Figure 36].

A report commissioned by Sustainability Victoria6 estimates that 54% of all end-of-life Rubber tyres cannot currently be accounted for. It is believed that this 54% is composed of tyres that are either stockpiled, exported without being declared, or illegally dumped.

Recovery of Rubber tyres increased by 18 percentage points which is almost entirely attributable to a lack of reporting in 2011-12 from a medium-sized rubber reprocessor.

Figure 36 shows that tyres continue to account for the majority of rubber diverted from landfill for reprocessing. Other recovered rubber material including tyre buffings and tread ends, uncured rubber and extrusion waste accounted for the remainder.

Figure 36 Composition of rubber recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

Table 11 Total rubber recovered, Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12



Change on previous


Other rubber 18 22 -20%Rubber tyres 47 27 73%Total 64 49 31%

Figure 37 shows an increase in rubber recovery in Victoria over the past five years. Although data has fluctuated over the life of the survey, all of the key rubber reprocessors have provided consistent responses to the survey since 2006-07, and it is believed that despite the estimated unknown 54% of tyre rubber, the totals reported since then provide a more accurate reflection of the state of rubber recycling than in previous years.

6 Emerging Materials Market Analysis, Hyder Consulting 2014, commissioned by Sustainability Victoria.


Other rubber27%

Rubber tyres73%

2012-13

Other rubber45%

Rubber tyres55%

2011-12

Figure 37 Rubber recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

10.2 Sources of recyclablesMost of the rubber reported as being received for reprocessing during 2012-13 (86%) was sourced from the Commercial & industrial sector [Figure 38]. Due to the tyre collection system for tyres being primarily through the retailers, it’s impossible to understand the true quantities sourced from the Municipal sector by surveying reprocessors alone.

Figure 38 Source sectors of rubber received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12


-

10

20

30

40

50

60

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es ('

000)

Municipal4%


0%


86%


10%

2012-13

Municipal3%


1%

Commercial & industrial83%


13%

2011-12

11. Textiles11.1 Recovery and trendsMattresses continue to account for the majority of the 4,000 tonnes of textiles recovered for reprocessing in Victoria in 2012-13 [Table 12], with 64% of the total, while Industrial textiles accounted for the remainder [Figure 39].

Although it is believed that clothes disposed of by Victorians are still being recycled into rags for use in industrial processes, the quantities are currently unknown. This is largely due to the closure of a reprocessing facility in 2012-13.

The data collected for this survey does not include clothing re-sold through second hand/charity clothing shops or exported for sale or as relief aid, and while the quantities of recovered clothing that remains in Victoria is unknown, ABS export data indicates that 2012-13 Victorians exported 47,000 tonnes of recovered clothes overseas to be re-used7.

Figure 39 Composition of textiles recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12

Table 12 Total textiles recovered in Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12



Change on previous


Industrial textiles 1 1 29%Mattresses 3 3 -26%Clothing (rags) – <1 –Total 4 5 -22%

7 International Merchandise Trade, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012-13


Industrial textiles36%

Mattresses64%

2012-13Clothing

10%

Industrial textiles22%

Mattresses68%

2011-12

Figure 40 Textiles recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

12.2 Sources of recyclablesThe Municipal sector contributed 64% of all materials received by Victoria’s textile reprocessors in 2012-13, a decrease of 14 percentage points [Figure 41]. This is almost entirely due to the closure of a reprocessing facility. The remainder was sourced from the Commercial & industrial sector, including major bed manufacturers and retailers.

Figure 41 Source sectors of textiles received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2012-13 and 2011-12


-

2

4

6

8

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Tonn

es ('

000)

Municipal64%


2012-13

Municipal78%


2011-12

Appendix A Survey methodologyThe Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2012-13 was conducted in September and October 2013 and sought data from 70 Victorian reprocessors, excluding 46 plastic reprocessors surveyed as part of the 2012-13 National Plastics Recycling Survey8.

Each reprocessor was emailed a survey developed for their specific industry category and asked to provide information for the 2012-13 financial year about the amount of material diverted from landfill (recovered) for reprocessing, including:

tonnes received by their Victorian site

tonnes received from other reprocessing facilities

tonnes imported or exported for reprocessing, both interstate and overseas

tonnes stockpiled (unprocessed and processed)

tonnes reprocessed on-site

amount of material disposed of to landfill due to contamination or as processing waste

sector/s from which the recovered materials for reprocessing were received

major products made from their reprocessing operations and the subsequent markets (defined by the ANZSIC code divisions for all materials excluding organics) to which the products are sold

number of full-time equivalent staff directly employed in the company’s recycling operations, and

levels of expenditure on research and development and capital investment for activities associated with the reprocessing of secondary-use materials.

A total of 64 of the 70 reprocessors responded to the survey, representing a 95% response rate. It is estimated that the 64 responding reprocessors between them recover more than 95% by weight of all material recovered in Victoria.

To avoid double counting, this survey focuses only on material recovered for reprocessing and no other stages of the recovered material life cycle, such as collection, sorting and manufacturing. The survey does not include materials that have been collected and baled only, or that have been resold in their original state for reuse, such as clothing sold through second-hand or charity stores. The omission of reused materials is not in any way intended to undervalue this important activity, but is necessary to avoid double counting of data and to provide clear parameters for the quantification of recycling.

With the exception of rubber, no data was included on materials used in energy recovery facilities.

Additional information was sought from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on the export of materials from Australia to overseas markets for reprocessing during the 2012-13 financial year. This data aims to capture materials exported from companies not surveyed by Sustainability Victoria, such as export traders.

Data on plastics recovery in Victoria was obtained from the 2012-13 National Plastics Recycling Survey, and incorporated into this report.

Data on solid waste disposed to licensed landfills was sourced from the Environment Protection Authority Victoria’s landfill levy returns. As stated by the EPA, the figure represents the amount of material accepted at licensed Victorian landfills, excluding material used as cover. The Environment Protection Act 1970 provides a rebate for cover material of 15% (at the relevant municipal rate) for each

8Sustainable Resource Use, 2012-13 National Plastics Recycling Survey


tonne of material deposited at a landfill. The figures shown in Table 13 were calculated by taking the tonnes of material received at landfills (including cover material sourced off site) and reducing this by 15% to allow for the cover material. It is noted that some landfills source cover material on site (e.g. from quarrying activities) and that this is not measured in the tonnes of waste received at landfills. Where landfills have claimed a recycling rebate, this has been subtracted from the figures. Prescribed waste (including low-level contaminated soil) deposited to landfill, including where used as cover, is not included in the above figures.

A number of reviews of landfill levy returns are currently being undertaken and therefore this data may be subject to change.

Where figures for garden organics have been supplied in cubic metres, conversion factors used to convert to tonnes have been based on the National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors, June 2010.

The Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey measures and reports on data from reprocessors who respond. No estimates are undertaken for non-responding companies. Due to the voluntary nature of the survey, it is expected that there will be a degree of variation from year to year. Every attempt has been made to include the large reprocessing operations to ensure that yearly variations are minimised. Data has been aggregated for reporting purposes at the state level to retain confidentiality.

From 2002-03, the food organics recovery data reported no longer includes any prescribed industrial waste figures, such as meat leftover from rendering processes or grease traps. Evaluation and cross-referencing of reported and actual data has led to adjustments of the previous financial years’ data.


Appendix B Materials recovered for reprocessingTable 13 Total material types recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2003-04 to 2012-13

Material type 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 % change 2011-12 to 2012-13

Metals

Aluminium (incl. cans) 62 88 83 63 51 32 66 84 57 93 62%

Batteries 30 33 34 15 36 31 37 28 4 7 68%

Car bodies 80 65 78 120 26 68 153 135 89 77 -13%

Non–ferrous 13 19 19 65 77 68 74 70 92 78 -15%

Other and mixed metals – – – 1 206 1 49 6 9 3 -65%

Steel (incl. packaging steel) 848 951 1,234 997 955 896 1,028 1,067 1,220 1,131 -7%

Total metals 1,032 1,156 1,448 1,261 1,349 1,097 1,408 1,390 1,470 1,390 -6%

Construction and demolition

Asphalt 170 162 139 190 152 225 196 223 229 258 13%

Brick / brick rubble 425 395 385 438 293 243 518 497 350 370 6%

Concrete 1,525 1,477 1,734 1,695 1,717 1,730 2,438 2,175 1,829 1,985 9%

Mixed construction and demolition – – – 81 111 91 81 167 243 495 103%

Plasterboard 22 24 27 22 33 37 27 32 34 39 14%

Rock / excavation stone 428 367 419 505 668 656 452 981 723 773 7%

Soil and sand 49 68 209 239 72 170 108 118 93 67 -28%

Total construction and demolition 2,618 2,492 2,912 3,170 3,046 3,154 3,823 4,194 3,502 3,985 14%


Paper / Cardboard

Cardboard / paper packaging 366 376 461 389 422 468 196 211 278 635 129%

Newsprint / magazines 194 200 232 122 132 159 114 137 123 185 51%

Printing and writing paper 246 262 238 73 124 92 44 58 108 89 -18%

Telephone books 10 9 10 2 1 – – – – – –

Other (mixed paper) 34 90 146 236 275 410 644 806 1,157 485 -58%

Total Paper / Cardboard 850 936 1,087 821 954 1,131 998 1,213 1,665 1,394 -16%

Organics

Timber 171 229 84 196 123 158 163 107 112 129 15%

Food organics 14 13 26 35 29 12 31 22 31 55 79%

Garden organics 179 310 276 302 311 326 384 422 500 448 -10%

Sawdust 76 26 35 144 67 154 127 126 150 157 5%

Other 5 40 29 77 76 149 216 193 185 127 -31%

Total Organics 444 618 449 754 604 801 924 871 978 916 -6%

Glass

Glass containers 73 83 143 188 42 38 – – – – –

Sheet / laminated glass 13 20 25 14 11 19 19 19 17 24 41%

Mixed glass waste – – – – 120 128 137 177 178 143 -20%

Total Glass 85 102 167 202 173 185 156 196 195 167 -14%

Plastic 96 94 109 111 118 143 154 146 149 152 2%

Rubber 10 22 16 29 26 37 44 55 49 64 31%

Textiles 3 3 2 7 3 3 4 5 5 4 -22%

Other materials – – – – – – – – – – –


Total all materials 5,142 5,427 6,194 6,358 6,277 6,555 7,516 8,069 8,014 8,071 1%

* Evaluation and cross-referencing of reported and actual data has led to an adjustment of previous financial year data.

Note: Food organics recovery data from 2002-03 no longer includes any prescribed industrial waste figures such as meat leftover from rendering processes or grease traps. Garden organics figures for 2003-04 and 2005-06

have been updated to more accurately reflect tonnes recorded in the Local Government Data Collection Survey 2003-04 and the Victorian Local Government Data Collection 2005-06 report.


Appendix C Participating reprocessorsSustainability Victoria would like to recognise and thank the following participants in the Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2012-13. The list below does not indicate all reprocessors who participated in the survey but those that agreed to be recognised.

Alex Fraser Allstone Quarries Beaver Bricks

City Circle Demolition Delta Ecogroup

Gippsland Concrete Recycling

SITA Resource Co MRI

Onesteel Biomix Corio Waste

Enviromix Gippsland Water Veolia

Scatoplus Spotswood Holdings Statewide Waste

Amcor Enviroflex C&N Ruggiero


Sustainability Victoria1300 363 744

Published by Sustainability VictoriaLevel 28 Urban Workshop50 Lonsdale StreetMelbourne Victoria 3000Australia.October 2015

sustainability.vic.gov.au


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