Frequently Asked Questions

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.

The ARL is free as part of your APCO Membership.

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 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.

Access to PREP is exclusive to APCO Members. Members can gain access to PREP by agreeing to the Packaging Assessment Tool Terms and Conditions within the APCO Member Centre.

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.

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.

Members of APCO who have signed the PREP and the ARL Terms and Conditions, can access ARL artworks files in the APCO Member Centre under the ARL program tab.

Detail on required ARL artwork dimensions (size, shape, etc.) can be found within the ARL Program User Guide.

The 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.

If you spot an ARL on-pack that you believe is incorrect you can send feedback through our portal.

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.