Throughout Australia, businesses, and homes inevitably produce plenty of waste. That waste is made up of office junk, construction waste, garden waste, recycling, and much, much more. Unfortunately, in the last few years, our country has faced a recycling crisis, particularly when it comes to plastics.
The amount of recycling waste in Australia has continued to increase, but our recycling rates have not kept up. What’s more, exporting waste has been a key component of our nations strategy… but this solution has run into a range of problems in recent years. Therefore, sustainable rubbish removal and recycling capabilities are more important than ever.
Rubbish continues to accumulate
Landfills continue to grow because there is nowhere for the waste to go – it will take thousands of years for much of these waste items to break down. Therefore, when items that can be recycled, such as plastics, are thrown into landfills, they will be there for a long, long time.
This is why appropriate recycling is critical, not just in Australia, but all over the world. Delivering these items to the right facilities, placing them in the right bins, and ensuring you hire the right people for your rubbish removal are just some of the steps that must be taken, to minimise the growth of landfills as much as possible.
The impact on the environment is disastrous
Plastic pollution, along with a wide range of other waste materials, has had a terrible impact on the environment in Australia, and the wider world. Images of plastic-strewn beaches in countries like Indonesia and Guatemala often pop up on the news… but we have similar issues right at home. In fact, according to the WWF, 85% of Australian seabirds are affected by plastic pollution.
What’s more, roughly three-quarters of all the waste found on the Australian coastline is made up of plastic… and virtually all of it comes from local sources, not overseas. Numerous studies have confirmed the impact that plastic and other waste is having on our environment… and it’s clear that more must be done, immediately.
There is good news
According to this article by the ABC, there was a 200 percent increase in the volume of soft plastics collected during the 2020–2021 financial year. This means more people were being more responsible with their soft plastics and taking them to soft recycling points. Many supermarkets now take soft plastics for recycling, which makes life much easier for the everyday consumer.
On a larger scale, Australia plans to increase its domestic capacity for plastic reprocessing from 227,000 tonnes in 2020–21 to at least 420,000 tonnes by 2025. This will ensure we are exporting less plastic waste to countries such as China and Malaysia, a process that has encountered a range of problems… and isn’t exactly ethical.
New targets for recyclable packaging have also been set by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). These targets include making 100% of plastic packaging reusable, compostable, or recyclable by the year 2025. This is a fantastic endeavour, and their other aims include phasing out unnecessary single-use plastics by 2025, as well as 70% of plastic packaging being recycled or composted by 2025.
More and more organisations around the country continue to develop new methods of recycling, meaning a larger capacity and more efficient functions. Technological innovation continues to thrive worldwide and with this growth and commitment from people around the globe, the future of recycling in Australia is bright.
A Sydney rubbish removal company with sustainability in mind
At Sydney City Rubbish, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Put simply, we want to make the world a better place by looking out for the environment and fortunately, we’re in a place to do so. Rubbish removal is a tough industry; unfortunately, it has lagged behind at times when it comes to eco-friendly practices.
If you are disposing of business waste, construction waste, or need an end-of-lease rubbish removal service, we have you covered. We’ll do it swiftly, safely, and most importantly, sustainably. We’ll ensure what can be recycled is, and repurpose whatever possible.
Get in touch with Sydney City Rubbish today. We can’t wait to help.
