Review of recycling activity in SA stage 2 - product recovery & analysis (2004)

Zero Waste SA is committed to improve the sustainability of recycling practices and systems in South Australia. As part of this program, Zero Waste SA has engaged Nolan-ITU to review the current recycling activity in South Australia and identify future expansion priorities. The project is part funded by the National Packaging Covenant in the interests of improving kerbside recycling, and is supported by the South Australian Jurisdictional Recycling Group. The review of recycling activity has been undertaken in the following two stages: Stage 1: Identify the total tonnes of material collected and recycled each year in South Australia on a material by material basis. Stage 2: Analyse products and their materials for 50 significant products including consumption levels, recovery activity and product specification disposal issues. This report presents the outcomes of Stage 2. The terms of reference for Stage 2 are as follows: 1. Identify 50 significant products in consultation with Zero Waste SA. 2. Estimate consumption levels for all products. 3. Estimate longevity of all products. 4. Assess trends that will influence waste disposal (eg expansion in mobile phone use and a delayed stockpiling of obsolete phones). 5. Determine recovery activity and provide a current recovery estimate for each product or product component. 6. Identify barriers for increased recycling and reuse for each product. 7. Identify opportunities for increased recycling and reuse. 8. Prioritise products for increasing recycling and reuse activity. Estimates are to be based upon activity in 2003, or if not available, the most recent data.