When it comes to rubbish production, Australians are amongst the highest rubbish producers in the world. We’re sending more and more rubbish to landfills, despite knowing very well that this is neither viable in the long term, nor environmentally-friendly.
As the owner of 4 Waste Walk-In Skip Bins, a company that provides rubbish removal in Brisbane South, I’ll take this opportunity to outline some interesting facts about rubbish that you’re probably not aware of. Hopefully, when you’re done reading this article, you’ll consider engaging in proper methods for rubbish removal.
Table of Contents
1. Australians are amongst the world’s top rubbish producers
Australians produce an extremely large amount of rubbish per head of population every single year. In fact, Australia ranks second only to the USA when it comes to the generation of domestic rubbish.
2. Average Australian households dispose of 2.25 kg of rubbish every day
The average Australian household generates around 2.25 kg of rubbish every single day. This is quite high, even though it may not seem like it. Over a year, 2.25 kg of rubbish being disposed of every day is enough waste to completely fill up a 3-bedroom home.
3. Only 4% of our e-waste is recycled
Along with domestic rubbish, Australians also generate huge amounts of e-waste every year – around 140,000 tonnes as per estimates. However, only 4% of this e-waste is sent for recycling.
4. Wasted food makes up a large amount of our rubbish
Of all the rubbish that we generate, a large amount of it is wasted food. It is estimated that the average Australian household throws away almost $1,226 worth of wasted food every year.
5. We also dispose of plastic bags and aluminium improperly
We Australians use around 3.92 million plastic bags and over 3 billion aluminium cans every year. While both plastic bags and aluminium cans are recyclable, most end up being disposed of improperly.
6. We’re doing well with paper recycling
Australian households, offices, schools and other workplaces all produce a lot of paper waste. It is estimated that we use millions of tonnes of paper every single year. However, we’re really doing well with paper and cardboard recycling, with a recycling rate of 87%. This is the highest in the world.
7. Household recycling in Victoria is doing well too
The recycling rate of Victorian households is quite good. It is estimated that household recycling across the state saves 8,960 ML of water every year in Victoria. This is enough to fulfil the water consumption needs of over 3,370,000 individuals for a week.
8. Plenty of rubbish is diverted away from landfills
While a lot of rubbish is sent to landfills, plenty of rubbish is also diverted away. In 2015, almost 55% of general domestic rubbish, 95% of recyclable rubbish and 97% of organic rubbish was diverted away from landfills.
Conclusion:
Australians are amongst the top producers of rubbish in the world and we fall second only to the USA. Average Australian households generate 2.25 kg of domestic rubbish every day. While we generate over 140,000 tonnes of e-waste every year, only 4% of this is recycled. A large amount of our rubbish also includes wasted food products. We dispose of aluminium cans and plastic bags improperly, despite these being recyclable. However, we’re doing pretty well with paper recycling with an 87% recycling rate. Household recycling in Victoria is doing well too and we divert plenty of rubbish away from landfills.
As a responsible individual, you should do everything you can to dispose of rubbish in the proper manner. To ensure that your rubbish is disposed of properly, hire a skip bin from us at 4 Waste Walk-In Skip Bins. Our skip bins are your best choice for efficient and affordable rubbish removal in Brisbane South.
Call us at 0413 333 330 to discuss your skip bin requirements with us today!