Recycling’s Ripple Effect: How Australia Can Turn the Tide on Waste

This National Recycling Week Australian households and businesses are encouraged to keep valuable resources out of landfill.

Every year since it was established by Planet Ark in 1996, National Recycling Week has been an opportunity for us all to focus on the urgent need for us to reduce household waste. This year, Planet Ark is spearheading a campaign with the message: “What goes around, comes around.” It’s a call to action, urging us to rethink our waste – not as an end, but as the beginning of a new cycle.

Last year, Planet Ark research for the annual waste reduction and recycling campaign revealed Australian households are potentially sending nearly 2.5 million tonnes of unnecessary waste to landfill. An estimated 9-18 per cent (441,000 tonnes conservatively) of all material sent to landfill by households is likely recyclable, while a massive 41-52 per cent (2,000,900 tonnes conservatively) could be composted at home or organic processing facilities.

This year’s focus is on combating food waste and ensuring packaging doesn’t end up as landfill fodder. With activities and resources galore, National Recycling Week is poised to educate and inspire actionable change in homes, schools, and workplaces.

Running from November 13-19, National Recycling Week provides an opportunity for residents and workplaces to learn simple methods of reducing their environmental footprint and preventing waste. Residents can host or join recycling themed events, brush up on their recycling knowledge with educational resources, learn about new developments in recycling policy and technology or discover tricks to reduce what they are sending to landfill and ensure resources don’t go to waste.

Planet Ark CEO Rebecca Gilling emphasises the urgency: “We’re inviting Australians to take a moment before binning something. Consider if it’s truly waste or a resource that’s simply misplaced.”

“While we’ve made significant strides since 1996, the journey towards zero waste is ongoing, especially with food scraps and packaging,” she adds.

Planet Ark’s Resource Hub is brimming with tools and tips to empower every Australian to make a difference. Whether it’s hosting a recycling event, brushing up on the latest in recycling technology, or simply learning to reduce waste, every action counts.

For those ready to join the movement and keep the cycle of resources spinning, visit nationalrecyclingweek.com.au and let’s ensure that what goes around truly comes around.