Queensland
Waste data is published annually through the Recycling and Waste in Queensland report, which includes an interactive visualisation of data since 2015-16.
Key findings from 2023-24 include:
- A total of 9.81 million tonnes of waste were generated in 2023-24, a 5.4% increase from 2022–23.
- Local governments sent 280,357 tonnes of paper and packaging for recovery.
- The 5.4% increase in total waste is set against the backdrop of Queensland’s population growth of 2.6% and economic growth (state final demand) of 1.8% during the same period.
- A total of 4.2 million tonnes of waste were landfilled in 2023-24, an 80,300 tonne decrease from 2022-23.
- A total of 5,604,565 tonnes of waste were recovered in 2023-24, an 11.6% increase from 2022–23.
- The overall recovery rate for waste increased by 3.2% from 2022–23 to 57.1% in 2023-24.
- 80.6% of materials recovered were recycled in Queensland in 2023-24.
- Local councils diverted 1,377,852 tonnes of headline wastes from disposal – 547,870 tonnes were recycled by local governments, with the remainder sent to the private sector for recovery.
- 18,462 tonnes of waste were diverted from landfill through the operation of Local Government ‘tip shops’.
- Local governments sent 280,357 tonnes of paper and packaging for recovery.
Private sector waste facilities (landfills, monofills and incinerators) handled 48.3% of the total waste sent for disposal. - 2.2% less waste from interstate sources than 2022–23 (266,563 tonnes received) and 78% less than the 1.19 million tonnes received in 2018–19.
When separated into each waste stream (household waste, commercial and industrial waste and construction and demolition waste), varying trends in recovery and disposal have been seen. However, of note has been the reduction in construction and demolition waste disposed to landfill. This has been driven by the significant reduction in the amount of waste being received from interstate sources. Also of note is the high proportion of household waste disposed to landfill compared to the other waste categories.
The reduced recovery rate in 2022, was due to more than 274,000 tonnes of disaster waste disposed following the Queensland and New South Wales flooding events in the first half of 2022 and a 13% increase in household waste disposed.
