8698.0 - Waste Management Services, Australia, 2002-03  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 08/06/2004   
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MEDIA RELEASE

June 08, 2004
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
91/2004

Waste services generate $2,700 million in income

At $2,700 million (m), the income generated by Australia's waste management services businesses in 2002-03 was equivalent to 0.2% of Australia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

More than half (59% or $1,600m) of the income generated by private and public trading sector waste management services businesses was from the collection and transportation of waste. Most (91% or $1,400m) of this income related to the collection of solid waste.

Less than a quarter (20% or $500m) of the total income generated in 2002-03 was accrued from the treatment/processing and/or disposal of waste.

New South Wales' (43%) waste management businesses earned the greatest portion of total income, followed by Victoria (24%) and Queensland (16%).

In 2002-03, expenditure of $2,500m was incurred by waste management services businesses. The operating profit before tax was $200m, resulting in an operating profit margin of 8.5%.

There were 1,100 waste management services businesses, employing 14,400 people in Australia at the end of June 2003. In addition, these businesses had 948 owner drivers employed on a contract basis.

Almost three-quarters (74%) of all businesses providing waste management services were small employers (i.e. employing four people or less).

Further information is in Waste Management Services, Australia, 2002-03 (cat. no. 8698.0).