International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

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29/09/09
“ … As a consequence of reduced landfill, accompanied by a large increase in
recycling, the packaging recovery rate increased from 57.3% in 2006 to
63.6% in 2007.”
The data for packaging waste from the annual EPA National Waste Database Reports
are presented in Table 12-5 and in Figure 12-2. The following are observed:
� An increase in the total tonnages of packaging waste generated from 2001 to
2007 (an average compound rate of growth of + 3.2 % for the period, or a 21%
increase overall);
� A fall in the total tonnages of packaging waste landfilled from 2001 to 2007
(an average annual fall of 5.9%. or 30% for the whole period); and
� An increase in the total tonnages of packaging waste recovered from 2001 to
2007. The annual compound rate of increase has been 20.3%, a net change
of over 300% for the period).
Table 12-5: Packaging Waste Generation, Disposal and Recovery, 2004 - 2007
Year Year Year
2001 2001 200 2002 200 200 200 2003 200 2004 2004 2005 2005 2006 2006 2007
2007
Gross
quantity
(tonnes)
Quantity
landfilled
(tonnes)
Quantity
recovered
(tonnes)
872,917 899,125 1,006,287 850,911 925,221 1,028,472 1,055,952
551,651 602,736 586,687 371,371 370,589 438,952 384,322
221,266 296,389 419,600 479,540 554,632 589,519 671,630
Source: EPA National Waste Reports 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2007
The changes in the management of waste are generally positive, though as
mentioned above, any effect on waste growth is not so easy to discern, not least since
the different materials have witnessed differing rates of growth (see above).
The degree to which these changes in management can be attributed to the existing
policy on packaging is unclear. Some interventions are likely to have had a significant
impact. For example, following the introduction of the requirement for producers to
sort packaging waste, the EPA reported: 236
The recovery of packaging waste increased by 14.3% in 2004, due to the
increased availability of mixed dry recyclables collections from households
and increased obligations on commercial premises to segregate and recycle
packaging waste. The largest fraction by weight recycled is paper and
cardboard, followed by wood and glass. Since March 2003, producers of
packaging are obliged to segregate for recovery specified packaging waste
236 EPA (2005) National Waste Report 2004, Wexford: EPA.