1367.5 - Western Australian Statistical Indicators, 2010  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/01/2011  Final
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Contents >> Environment >> Household Waste Management

HOUSEHOLD WASTE MANAGEMENT

HOUSEHOLD WASTE MANAGEMENT(a), Western Australia

2009
2009
2006
2003
'000
%
%
%

Recycled waste(b)
808.3
95.9
96.2
91.7
Re-used waste(c)
736.3
87.3
87.3
83.3
Neither recycled or re-used waste
16.0
1.9
*0.9
3.4

*Estimate has a standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
(a) Refers to number of households that have recycled or re-used household waste in the 12 months prior to the survey.
(b) Households that recycled at least one surveyed waste item.
(c) Households that re-used at least one surveyed waste item.
Source: Environmental Issues: Household Waste Management and Transport Use (cat no. 4602.0.55.002)
  • Of the estimated 843,000 Western Australian households in 2009, almost 96% had participated in some form of recycling in the previous 12 months, similar to the proportion in 2006. Likewise, the proportion of households re-using waste remained at just over 87% between 2006 and 2009. Less than 2% of households in WA did not re-use or recycle any household waste items in 2009.


Type of Household Waste Recycled or Re-used, Selected Items

Graph: Type of Household Waste Recycled or Re-used, Selected Items


  • In 2009, the most recycled and/or reused items among households in WA were Paper, cardboard and newspapers (92%), followed by Glass (89%), Plastic bottles (89%), and Plastic bags (83%). Western Australian households were recycling most surveyed items at a greater rate than in previous years. Steel cans showed the greatest increase, with 74% of households recycling or re-using these items compared with 56% in 2006.
  • The most common reason given for not recycling a waste item was not using any or enough materials to warrant recycling or not appropriate (96%). Almost one in five (17%) Western Australian households reported they had not recycled an item because they were not interested or it was too much effort.


Ways in which Households Recycle Waste

Graph: Ways in which Households Recycle Waste


  • Western Australians were less likely to take their household waste to a central collection point, other than a dump or waste transfer station, in 2009 (17%) than they were in 2006 (67%). This can be partly attributed to the increased use of municipal kerbside recycling, which rose from 77% to 89% between 2006 and 2009.


This link take you to the Downloads page for Environmental Issues: Waste Management and Transport Use, Mar 2009 (cat. no. 4602.0.55.002) where you can access additional statistics on this topic, including individual state/territory and national data.



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