The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) recently commissioned Australian Economic Advocacy Solutions (AEAS) to determine the economic benefit of our recycling industry to the Australian economy.

Recycling connects in some way with almost every household, business, and government entity in the country.

In 2021–22 an estimated 40.6 million tonnes of material was recycled. In the past decade, Australia’s recycled tonnage has grown by 3.1% each year, compared to Australia’s average population growth rate of 1.4% over the same period.

It should come as no surprise that the report found a host of direct and indirect economic benefits associated with these growing practices. Some of these include:

Direct

• 1,828 businesses operating.
• 40.6 million tonnes of material recycled and processed in 2021–22.
• 30,606 jobs were provided to Australian residents.
• $2.5 billion in wages and salaries and an additional $253 million towards employee superannuation.
• An average livelihood provided to each employee within the industry of $82,618 which compares to the Australian average weekly earnings of $69,103.
• A collective industry turnover of over $14.6 billion.
• $10 billion in benefits sourced and provided across its supply chain.
• Over $1 billion in 2021–22 million invested in land, buildings, plant and equipment, and vehicles each year.
• $5.1 billion in industry value added to the Australian economy.

Indirect

• Contributed almost 19 billion to the Australian economy and an estimated 95,000 jobs in 2021–22, recycling an estimated 40.6 million tonnes of material.
• The report estimates ~$465 in net economic activity is created for every tonne of material recycled.
• The industry also contributes to the country’s economy in indirect ways such as GDP value (estimated at $5.8 billion) through the demand for goods and services, as well as indirect jobs provided through flow-on activity.
• In addition, the manufacturing and agricultural industries' usage of recycled materials including plastics, metals, glass, paper and cardboard, masonry materials, tyres, and organics, creates further economic and employment benefits.

Read the full report.

The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) is a non-profit volunteer organisation with the mission of leading the transition to a circular economy through resource recovery, remanufacturing, and recycling supply chain. Its sector collects, sorts, and reprocesses material, and makes new products with recycled content, creating more jobs for Australians.

Australian Economic Advocacy Solutions delivers services in economic analysis, research, and advocacy in Australia. AEAS delivers services nationally to exemplary organisations including ACOR, Australian Industry Group, Australian Gas Industry Trust, BASF, Bowen River Utilities, Brisbane Airport Corporation, Brisbane Economic Development Agency, Business Chamber Queensland, CANEGROWERS, IOR Petroleum, LifeFlight, Master Builders, unions, local government authorities, the federal and state governments, and many others.

Sources: ACOR Media Release, ‘Environmental benefit and economic growth go hand in hand in recycling”; ACOR Report Publications - Australian Council of Recycling (acor.org.au)