Waste recovery includes recycling of waste into new products and recovering energy from waste. In 2023-24, most waste recovery in Western Australia was from the recycling of wastes. In future reporting periods the recovery of energy from waste is expected to be a larger contributing factor in waste recovery.
A total of 4.8 million tonnes of waste was recovered in 2023–24, an increase of 0.4 million tonnes (10 per cent) compared to recovery in 2022–23.
The reported total tonnes of waste recovered from the waste stream increased significantly with the introduction of mandatory reporting in 2019–20. Since then, reported total tonnes of waste recovery has continued to increase.
The most recent increase in reported overall waste recovery from 2022–23 to 2023–24 was primarily driven by an increase in materials recovered from the C&D waste stream (0.3 million tonnes). There was also a smaller increase in materials recovered from the C&I waste stream, mostly scrap metals (0.1 million tonnes).
Recycling
MSW
In 2023–24, 0.4 million tonnes of materials were recycled from the MSW stream. Forty-six per cent of the recycled materials was organic waste (mostly garden and food waste), followed by paper and cardboard at 22 per cent. Glass (20 per cent) was the next most recycled material, by weight, from the MSW stream.
C&I
In 2023-24, one million tonnes of materials were recycled from the C&I waste stream. Seventy-one per cent of the recycled materials were metals, followed by paper and cardboard at 13 per cent. Organics (10 per cent) was the next most recycled material by weight, from the C&I waste stream.
Organics from primary production
Organics from primary production, such as forestry and agriculture, are not included in the recovery data. Liable persons reported recovering an additional 0.2 million tonnes of these organics, the majority (77 per cent) of which was waste from forestry operations.
C&D
In 2023-24, 3.3 million tonnes of materials were recycled from the C&D waste stream. Thirty-three per cent of the recycled materials were described as mixed C&D waste, followed by sand and soil at 27 per cent. Concrete (22 per cent) was the next most recycled material, by weight, from the C&D waste stream.
Recycling destinations
In 2023-24, 77 per cent (3.7 million tonnes) of waste was reprocessed and recovered within WA, and 21 per cent (1.0 million tonnes) was sent overseas for reprocessing. Smaller quantities of recovered materials (0.1 million tonnes) were sent interstate for reprocessing.
Almost all (99 per cent) reprocessing of waste from the C&D waste stream occurred within WA, with recovered materials primarily destined for use in construction or land reclamation related activities. Recovery of materials from the MSW stream also primarily (60 per cent) occurred in WA, with garden organics and FOGO materials used to produce compost and other soil enhancing products. In contrast, waste recovered from the C&I waste stream was dominated by scrap metal recovery and most (81 per cent) was exported from WA.
Energy recovered from waste
About 49,000 tonnes of waste was recovered as energy in 2023–24. Almost all (96 per cent) of this was sourced from the C&I sector. About 63 per cent was recovered as tyre‑derived fuel and the remainder, 37 per cent, recovered as biogas from the biodigestion of food waste.
Energy recovery is reported separately to recycling. It has been included in the calculation of waste generation.
Landfill gas capture has not been included in the estimate of energy recovered from waste.
Dashboard 5: Waste recovery
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