Circular economy roadmap for plastics, glass, paper and tyres

April 20th, 2023

Pathways for unlocking future growth opportunities for Australia

Australia is beginning to imagine an economy in which today’s goods are tomorrow’s resources.
In three related initiatives, the Australian government has set a national target to reduce waste to landfill by 80% by 2030, agreed to ban the export of waste plastics, paper, glass and tyres, and committed to develop a strategy that radically increases Australia’s capacity to generate and market high value recycled commodities.

The Australian government also seeks to do two seemingly independent things simultaneously: reduce the environmental impacts and economic costs of waste and enhance regional prosperity and employment. Recognising that an innovative and systems-based approach is needed, the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources has asked CSIRO to consider what solutions are available. CSIRO consulted with 83 industry, research and government representatives to determine those solutions.

This report suggests that Australia has what it needs to launch a circular economy strategy that will both address fundamental environmental issues and foster economic development and employment.

It sets out:

  • Australia needs an integrated and innovative circular economy strategy. Promising existing work has not yet met that need, so that waste exports and material extraction both continue to rise, and Australia lags further behind other countries in a growth market.
  • A circular economy strategy that integrates material flows and enabling institutions in six elements (see left).
  • Strategies across the four major waste resource streams of paper, glass, tyres and plastics that will overcome challenges identified by stakeholders.
  • Clear roles for participants in the circular economy, spanning the public, household, government, private and non-profit sectors.
  • The actions needed to build on this report
    and implement an Australian circular economy strategy.

CSIRO presents this strategy as a practical and achievable approach for Australia to transition to a resource-efficient path.