70% of plastic packaging being recycled or composted

Plastic packaging has some of the lowest recovery rates of any material. This Target seeks to significantly improve the volume of plastic packaging that is successfully recycled or composted.

 

Figure 1: Progress towards the 70% Plastic Recovery Target as of 2021-22.

Supporting resources  

• The ANZPAC Plastics Pact (ANZPAC) is a collaborative solution that brings together key players behind a shared vision of a circular economy for plastic, where plastic never becomes waste or pollution. ANZPAC is focused on implementing solutions tailored to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands region. 
• The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) Program is an on-pack labelling program that is helping consumers to recycle correctly and supporting brand owners to design packaging that is recyclable at end-of-life. While the ARL covers packaging of all material types, the complex nature of plastics recycling (particularly soft plastics) is significantly mitigated by the provision of clear instructions on pack. 
• National Compostable Packaging Strategy delivered in June 2021, in partnership with the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) and the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA). This document is a comprehensive approach to how Australia can develop an environmentally sustainable system for compostable packaging.