Recycling and waste in Queensland report
Information about waste recovery, recycling and disposal in Queensland is collected through an annual waste data survey and monthly waste data returns from landfill operators.
This data helps inform policy development and decision makers in the waste and resource recovery industry, local government and Queensland Government about the state’s recycling and waste management activities.
On this page
- Key findings
- Headline wastes
- Local governments
- Private sector disposal
- Materials recovered
- Movement of wastes
- Waste levy
- Previous reports
- Open data sources
Key findings for 2022–23
A total of 9.30 million tonnes of headline wastes were generated, a 0.5% increase from 2021–22.
- The overall annual recovery rate for headline wastes increased by 2.4 percentage points to 53.9%.
- A total of 4.28 million tonnes of headline wastes were landfilled, a 204,233 tonne decrease from 2021–22.
- Over 18,800 tonnes of disaster waste were landfilled.
- 80% of materials recovered were recycled in Queensland.
- Collectively, local governments sent 303,996 tonnes of paper and packaging for recovery.
- 1.40 million tonnes of red lid bin waste were picked up by weekly council collections.
- Organic processors converted 1.93 million tonnes of organic material into products such as soil conditioners, manufactured soil, potting mixes and mulches.
- The waste levy raised $394 million.
- Queensland received 41% less waste from interstate sources than 2021-22 (272,647 tonnes received).
Headline wastes
- A total of 9.30 million tonnes of headline wastes (municipal, commercial and industrial, construction and demolition) were generated – an increase of 43,700 tonnes (0.5%) from 2021–22.
- The 0.5% increase in headline waste is set against the backdrop of Queensland’s population growth of 2.01% (Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Population, 2021–22 Table 3. Estimated resident population and components, Local Government Areas, Queensland) and economic growth (state final demand of 2.9% (Queensland Treasury, ABS State Details, June quarter 2023) during the same period.
The overall waste diversion from landfill (recovery rates) increased by 2.4 percentage points from 51.5% in 2021–22 to 53.9% in 2022-23.
- Waste diversion for the headline waste streams were:
- 26.5% for municipal solid waste (the current target is 55.0% by 2025)
- 52.7% for commercial and industrial waste (the current target is 65.0% by 2025)
- 81.2% for construction and demolition waste (current target is 75.0% by 2025).
| Waste type | Current percentage | Target percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal solid waste | 26.5 | 55 |
| Commercial and industrial waste | 52.7 | 65 |
| Construction and demolition waste | 81.2 | 75 |
Local governments
Local governments sent 303,996 tonnes of paper and packaging for recovery.
- Local governments sent 303,996 tonnes of paper and packaging for recovery.
- Weekly red bin lid kerbside services collected 1.40 million tonnes of domestic waste from 2,037,140 households – a 3.0% decrease per capita from 2021-22.
- Thirty-five councils provided a regular yellow bin lid kerbside collection service for paper and packaging materials to 1,896,161 households – a 2.4% increase from 2021–22.
- Councils sent 303,996 tonnes of paper and packaging for recovery. This is 12,900 tonnes less than the amount sent in 2021–22 – 6.0% less per capita compared to 2021–22.
- Twelve councils provided 413,509 Queensland households with a regular green waste (green bin lid) kerbside collection service – an increase of 73,400 households (21.6%) from 2021–22.
- Green bin lid services collected 113,933 tonnes of garden and food organic wastes, 2,900 tonnes greater than the amount collected in 2021–22. This is a 2.6% increase.
- Local councils diverted 1.347 million tonnes of headline wastes from disposal.
- 16,700 tonnes of waste were diverted from landfill through the operation of ‘tip shops’.
- 11,723 tonnes of litter and illegally dumped waste were cleaned up at a cost of $25 million.
- $179.5 million was paid under waste levy annual payments to local councils.
| Bin type | Households |
|---|---|
| Red bin | 2037140 |
| Yellow bin | 1896161 |
| Green bin | 413509 |
Private sector disposal
- Private sector waste facilities (landfills, monofills and incinerators) handled 50% of the headline wastes sent for disposal – which has remained static since 2021–22. Of this waste, private sector landfills reported disposing of:
- 27% of the municipal solid waste
- 65% of the commercial and industrial waste
- 85% of the construction and demolition waste.
Materials recovered
A total of 5,017,517 tonnes of headline wastes were recovered – a 5% increase from 2021–22.
- 4,973,502 tonnes of headline wastes were recycled by reporting entities.
- 824,057 tonnes of segregated green waste were recovered, of which 45% was from domestic sources and the remainder from commercial sources.
- Organic processors converted 1,927,208 tonnes of inputs (such as green waste, timber, sawmill residues, biosolids, manure, grease trap waste, abattoir waste, drilling mud and ash) into products such as soil conditioners, manufactured soil, potting mixes and mulches.
- 825,253 tonnes of ash (16.4% of the 5,034,551 tonnes reported) was recovered.
- 67,200 tonnes of waste (including tyres, timber, paints, solvents and chemicals and mineral oils) were sent to energy recovery.
Movement of wastes
272,647 tonnes of waste were received from interstate sources by reporting entities in Queensland – a 41% decrease in incoming interstate waste from 2021–22.
- Of the materials recovered in 2022–23:
- 79.8% were processed in Queensland
- 8.6% of diverted materials were sent interstate for further processing
- 11.6% of diverted materials were sent overseas for further processing.
- Materials that were predominantly recovered in Queensland include Paper, Glass, HDPE, PP and PS Plastics, Concrete, Concrete washout, Asphalt, Bricks and Pavers, Tiles and Ceramics, Aggregate, Plasterboard, Fibre cement, Green waste, Sawmill residuals, Agricultural residuals, Manure, Abattoir waste, Cotton gin trash, Waste food, Food processing waste, Vegetable Oil, Mineral Oil, Biosolids, Grease trap waste & sludges, Oily water, Fly Ash, Bottom/Other Ash, Drilling mud and Other rubber.
- Other materials that were diverted from landfill and predominately exported from Queensland include Cardboard, PET and LDPE Plastics, Steel and Aluminium cans, Other ferrous and nonferrous metals, E-waste, Lead acid batteries and Tyres.
Waste levy
The waste levy raised $394 million.
As of 30 June 2023, there were 52 active landfill operators with a total of 97 sites within the levy zone.
The total revenue received from the waste disposal levy in 2022–23 was $394 million.
For 2022–23, the total amount of annual payments made to local councils was $179.5 million.
| Waste type | Amount (tonnes) |
|---|---|
| Municipal solid waste | 1,856,407 |
| Commercial and industrial waste | 1,271,783 |
| Construction and demolition waste | 508,670 |
| Earth contaminated with a hazardous contaminant from land recorded on the Environmental Management Register (EMR) or Contaminated Land Register (CLR) | 17,586 |
| Recycling activity residue waste with an approved waste levy discount | 203,618 |
Category 1 regulated waste, other than:
| 139,887 |
Category 2 regulated waste, other than:
| 137,468 |
| Waste type | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| Municipal solid waste | 1856407 |
| Commercial and industrial waste | 1271783 |
| Construction and demolition waste | 508670 |
| Earth contaminated with a hazardous contaminant from land recorded on the EMR or CLR | 17586 |
| Recycling activity residue waste with an approved waste levy discount | 203618 |
| Category 1 regulated waste | 139887 |
| Category 2 regulated waste | 119881 |
| Waste classification | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| Waste with a general levy exemption | 1063140 |
| Waste with an approved levy exemption | 1030143 |
Other matters
- 40 councils indicated that they had implemented waste reduction and recycling plans.
- Under the Queensland Government’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011, State Entities are required to prepare three-year Waste Reduction and Recycling Plans (WRRPs) and report on progress on an annual basis to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI). Twenty five state entities reported against their waste reduction and recycling plan.
- There is one state-based accredited product stewardship scheme in Queensland (Dulux Project Earth – for 15 litre plastic paint buckets, lids and tear off strips)
- There were no waste reduction and recycling plans identified at planning entity and sector/s of reporting entities’ level.
Annual waste data survey
The Recycling and Waste in Queensland report is largely informed by the Annual Waste Data Survey.
The survey captures data about waste generation, resource recovery, treatment and disposal in Queensland. This year’s data was derived from surveys submitted by 436 reporting entities, including local governments, state government departments, private landfill operators, recyclers, organic processors, waste transporters, operators of transfer stations, incinerators, industrial and mining monofils.
It also provides a range of government and industry stakeholders across the entire state with access to high quality, accurate waste data, while protecting survey respondent privacy and commercial confidentiality. Such data is critical to stakeholder planning and decision making at both the micro and macro level and ensures better productivity, with more likelihood of opportunities being identified and leveraged, and challenges managed.
See the glossary of terms used in recycling and waste report for further clarification.
Previous reports
- Recycling and Waste in Queensland 2022
- Recycling and Waste in Queensland 2021
- Recycling and waste in Queensland 2020
- Recycling and waste in Queensland 2019
- Recycling and waste in Queensland 2018
- Recycling and waste in Queensland 2017
- Recycling and waste in Queensland 2016
Open data sources
- Headline waste disposal in Queensland by Region (2020–21 to 2021–22)
- Headline waste disposal in Queensland by Sector (2020–21 to 2021–22)
- Headline waste generation in Queensland (2011–12 to 2021–22)
- Litter and illegally disposed waste reported by Local Governments (2020–21 to 2021–22)
- Local Government bin services in Queensland (2011–12 to 2021–22)
- Material sent overseas for recovery from Queensland (2015–16 to 2021–22)
- Waste disposed at levyable waste disposal sites (2019–20 to 2021–22)
- Waste received from interstate sources (2013–14 to 2021–22)