Frequently Asked Questions
Australasian Recycling Label Program
Access to the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) Program is exclusive to Members of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). APCO Members can join the ARL Program to gain access to the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) and the ARL.
There are a series of steps Members must take before the ARL can appear on-pack including agreeing to PREP and ARL Terms and Conditions. If you are already an APCO Member, refer to the ARL Program User Guide for full details. For more information on the ARL Program, please click here.
To understand the recyclability of your packaging at kerbside, APCO provides the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) to our Members. PREP is an online tool that assesses packaging specifications to determine how a piece of packaging will perform in the Australian and New Zealand resource recovery systems.
Even the smallest details can have an impact on recyclability of packaging, such as material, shape, size and weight. For every item of packaging, PREP classifies recyclability via the availability of collection services, how the packaging will behave in a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and in subsequent processing facilities, such as paper mills and aluminum smelters.
Access to the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) is available to Members of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) and is a trademarked logo. This means that to apply to ARL on your packaging, you will need to first become an APCO Member. To then participate in the ARL program, you agree to use the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) and the ARL as per the stipulated guidelines.
APCO always encourages clear on-pack labelling to ensure that after you have done all this hard work to redesign for recyclability, consumers then play their role in disposing of each component of packaging correctly.
No, the ARL is a voluntary program. However, as a free and member exclusive benefit we encourage the adoption of the ARL on packaging.
You don’t need to send your packaging to APCO for recyclability assessment. Organisation can use the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) online tool to assess the recyclability of their packaging internally. PREP will request specific details on all components of the packaging being assessed including shape, size, weight, inks, adhesives and the materials used.
PREP is exclusive to APCO Members who have agreed to the PREP Terms and Conditions and informs the use of the ARL on-pack. To find out more about PREP and how it fits within the ARL program,
PREP is an online tool that allows packaging manufactures and brand owners to assesses how their packaging will perform in the Australian and New Zealand resource recovery systems.
When it comes to packaging, even the smallest details can have an impact on recyclability, including the packaging shape, size, weight, inks, adhesives and the materials used.
For every item of packaging, PREP considers all these factors, as well as the availability of collection services, how the packaging will behave in a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and in subsequent processing facilities, such as paper mills and aluminium smelters.
By aggregating this information into a simple online platform, PREP empowers businesses to understand whether their packaging is recyclable, not recyclable, or conditionally recyclable – provided consumers follow the set instructions in the corresponding ARL on-pack. The ARL is generated using the evidence supplied by PREP. Only once a business has conducted a PREP assessment can the ARL be used on-pack. The process provides a verified and transparent education loop between the design and the end-of-life of packaging in the Australian and New Zealand kerbside recycling systems.
Access to PREP is exclusive to Members of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO).
Compliant APCO Members (Brand Owners, International Affiliates and Sustainability Professionals) can gain access to PREP by agreeing to the Packaging Assessment Tool Terms and Conditions within the APCO Member Centre.
PREP access is granted on the condition the APCO Member remains compliant with all
PREP is an online tool that provides a way for brand owners, packaging designers and manufacturers to assess whether an item of consumer-facing packaging could be classified as recyclable at kerbside in Australia and New Zealand. PREP takes into account how widespread the collection services are for the item, how the item will behave at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and subsequently at processing facilities, such as paper mills and aluminium smelters. PREP produces a Recyclability Evaluation Report for each project that is assessed and will list the recyclability classification for each separable component.
The Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) is an online tool that assesses how a piece of packaging will perform in the Australian and New Zealand resource recovery systems. PREP simulates the Australian and New Zealand kerbside recycling system (infrastructure and processes), through a robust series of thresholds and parameters developed in consultation with local governments, recyclers and material reprocessors.
APCO also has a governance structure, that exists to ensure that the data informing PREP is up-to-date and reflective of the current resource recovery systems in Australia and New Zealand. This includes all proposed changes and submissions requiring review through technical committees, public and targeted consultation, and review for decision through APCO’s Internal Review Committee (IRC).
Conditionally Recyclable is the classification given to a piece of packaging in the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) program that can be recycled but only if the specific instructions in the ARL on-pack are followed by the consumer. These Conditionally Recyclable instructions can be broken down into three main categories:
1. There is another destination that allows recycling and therefore a consumer must 'check locally' or 'drop off' that packaging to the approved destination for recycling to occur. For example the program in Australia, and in New Zealand are approved alternative destinations under the ARL program.
Discover local kerbside collection or nearby away from home recycling options across Australia
2. Consumer behaviours are available, that will improve recyclability of end-of-life packaging. This means that a packaging component may be recyclable but only under the conditions that the consumer follows the specific approved instructions to support the recyclability of that item. This could include actions such as 'scrunch', 'flatten', 'leave attached', etc.
3. The item is ‘Less Widely Accepted’ by Councils and so the consumer must 'check locally' to determine whether they reside in a council area that does accept that packaging item. Discover local kerbside collection or nearby away from home recycling options across Australia
The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) is an on-pack label that helps consumers in Australia and New Zealand recycle their packaging correctly.
Packaging can be made up of a range of different components and materials, each requiring different disposal methods. Some items belong in the general waste bin, some can be recycled, while others require special instructions to be recycled. Some items belong in the general waste bin, some can be recycled, while others require consumers to follow special instructions in order to be recycled.
The ARL provides all of this information in one easy evidence-based label, allowing consumers to confidently and accurately dispose of their packaging.
To find out more about the ARL and the ARL program, click here.
Access and use of the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) is available to Members of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). Members of APCO who have signed the PREP and the ARL Terms and Conditions, can access ARL artworks files in the APCO Member & Signatory Centre under the ARL program tab.
Detail on required ARL artwork dimensions (size, shape, etc.) can be found within the ARL Program User Guide. This APCO Member exclusive resource can be Adhering to the ARL Program User Guide requirements is included in the ARL Terms and Conditions agreement, underpinning program compliance.
The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) does not provide recoverability information for compostable packaging. The ARL currently only conveys recyclability for consumer packaging across Australia and New Zealand's kerbside recycling systems and nearby away from home recycling options.
Refer to the resource and the website for information on the Australian Standards.
To know if a piece of packaging is recyclable, look for the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL). This is an on-pack label that details the recyclability of all packaging components. The label is evidenced by the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) which assess packaging recyclability across Australia and New Zealand, taking into account collection, sortation, reprocessing and end-markets. Visit our website
To find out how to recycle near you go to your local recycling guide.
The Check locally instructions on packaging indicate that the recycling requirements or infrastructure may vary by region. Please visit Your local recycling guide on arl.org.au to determine the appropriate way to dispose of that specific packaging.