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Recycling and waste in Queensland 2021

Information about waste recovery, recycling and disposal in Queensland is collected through an annual waste data survey (survey) and monthly waste levy returns from landfill operators.

This data helps inform policy development and decision makers in the waste and resource recovery industry, local government and Queensland Government about the state’s recycling and waste management activities.

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Key findings for 2020–21

  • The overall recovery rate for headline wastes increased by 2.1% from the previous year to 56.2%.
  • 79% of materials recovered were recycled in Queensland.
  • Local governments sent 309,000 tonnes of paper and packaging to recyclers.
  • 1.35 million tonnes of domestic waste were picked up by weekly council collections.
  • Organic processors converted 1.70 million tonnes of organic material into products such as soil conditioners, manufactured soil, potting mixes and mulches.
  • The waste levy raised $303.34 million.
  • Queensland received 23% less waste from interstate sources (345,000 tonnes received).

Headline wastes

  • A total of 9.3 million tonnes of headline wastes (municipal, commercial and industrial, construction and demolition) were generated – an increase of 500,000 tonnes (5.7%) from 2019–20.
  • The 5.7% increase in headline wastes compares to Queensland’s population growth of 1.6% [1] and economic growth (state final demand of 4.1% [2]) during the same period.
  • Waste diversion for the headline waste streams were:
    • 28.4% for municipal solid waste (the current target is 55% by 2025)
    • 54.8% for commercial and industrial waste (the current target is 65% by 2025)
    • 79.7% for construction and demolition waste (current target is 75% by 2025).

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Waste diversion for the headline waste streams
Waste type Current percentage Target percentage
Municipal solid waste 28.4 55
Commercial and industrial waste 54.8 65
Construction and demolition waste 79.7 75

[1]ABS Regional population, 2019-20, Table 3. Estimated resident population, Local Government Areas, Queensland

[2]ABS State Details, June quarter 2021

Local governments

  • Weekly red bin lid kerbside services collected 1.35 million tonnes of domestic waste from 2,000,600 households – a 4.5% increase per capita from 2019–20 and a 12.0% decrease per capita since 2009–10.
  • Thirty-two councils provided a regular yellow bin lid kerbside collection service for paper and packaging materials to 1,835,600 households – a 1.6% increase from 2019–20.
  • Councils sent 309,000 tonnes of paper and packaging for recovery. While this is 2,500 tonnes greater than the amount sent in 2019–20, it is 0.8% less per capita compared to 2019–20 and 13.1% less per capita compared to 2009–10.
  • Eight councils provided 294,200 Queensland households with a regular green waste (green bin lid) kerbside collection service – an increase of 26,000 households from 2019–20.
  • Green bin lid services collected 82,600 tonnes of garden and food organic wastes, 12,900 tonnes greater than the amount collected in 2019–20. This is a 16.6% increase per capita from 2019–20 and a 146% increase per capita since 2012–13.
  • Local councils diverted 1,330,000 tonnes of headline wastes from disposal – 567,000 tonnes were recycled by local governments, with the remainder sent to the private sector for recovery.
  • 13,400 tonnes of waste were diverted from landfill through the operation of ‘tip shops’.
  • 12,000 tonnes of litter and illegally dumped waste were cleaned up at a cost of $34 million.
  • $143.8 million was paid under annual payments to local councils.

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Household bin collection
Bin typeHouseholds
Red bin 2000600
Yellow bin 1835600
Green bin 294200

Private sector disposal

  • Private sector waste facilities (landfills, monofills and incinerators) handled 47% of the headline wastes sent for disposal – a similar proportion to 2019–20. Of this waste, private sector landfills reported disposing of:
    • 23% of the municipal solid waste
    • 59% of the commercial and industrial waste
    • 87% of the construction and demolition waste.

Materials recovered

  • Approximately 4,655,000 tonnes of headline wastes were recycled by reporting entities.
  • Close to 774,000 tonnes of segregated green waste was recovered, of which 47% was from domestic sources and the remainder from commercial sources.
  • Organic processors converted 1,700,000 tonnes of inputs (such as green waste, timber, sawmill residues, biosolids, manure, grease trap waste, abattoir waste, drilling mud and ash) into products such as soil conditioners, manufactured soil, potting mixes and mulches.
  • Approximately 1,034,000 tonnes of ash (19.3% of the 5,325,000 tonnes reported) was recovered.
  • 88,950 tonnes of waste (including timber, green waste, tyres, mineral oil and chemicals) were sent to energy recovery.

Movement of wastes

  • Of the materials recovered in 2020–21:
    • 79% were processed in Queensland
    • 6% of diverted materials were sent interstate for further processing
    • 15% of diverted materials were sent overseas for further processing.
  • Typically, the recovered organics and building materials were fully processed in Queensland, while the majority of the paper, cardboard, tyres, ferrous and non-ferrous metals diverted from disposal were exported from Queensland for further processing.
  • Close to 345,000 tonnes of waste were received from interstate sources by reporting entities in Queensland – a 23% decrease from the 447,000 tonnes reported in 2019–20.

Waste levy

As at 30 June 2021, there were 53 active landfill operators with a total of 101 sites within the levy zone. Of these, 50 operators across 98 sites received waste on which the waste levy was paid to the state.

The total revenue received from the waste disposal levy in 2020–21 was $303.34 million.

For 2020–21, the total amount of annual payments made to local councils was $143.8 million.

Types and amounts of waste on which the levy was paid to the state
Waste type Amount (tonnes)
Municipal solid waste 1,793,160
Commercial and industrial waste 1,113,167
Construction and demolition waste 634,844
Earth contaminated with a hazardous contaminant from land recorded on the Environmental Management Register (EMR) of Contaminated Land Register (CLR) 94,734
Recycling activity residue waste with an approved waste levy discount 188,193

Category 1 regulated waste, other than:

  • earth contaminated with a hazardous contaminant from land recorded on the EMR of CLR
  • treated timber sawdust and shavings
 64,620

Category 2 regulated waste, other than:

  • earth contaminated with a hazardous contaminant from land recorded on the EMR of CLR
  • treated timber sawdust and shavings
 76,631

Show data

Types and amounts of waste on which the levy was paid to the state
Waste typeTonnes
Municipal solid waste 1793160
Commercial and industrial waste 1113167
Construction and demolition waste 634844
Earth contaminated with a hazardous contaminant from land recorded on the EMR or CLR 94734
Recycling activity residue waste with an approved waste levy discount 188193
Category 1 regulated waste 64620
Category 2 regulated waste 76631

Show data

Amount of waste on which the levy would have been paid if it were not exempt waste
Waste classificationTonnes
With a general levy exemption 1627437
With an approved levy exemption 1182220

Other matters

  • 44 councils indicated that they had implemented waste reduction and recycling plans.
  • 16 state entities reported against their waste reduction and recycling plan.
  • There is 1 accredited product stewardship scheme in Queensland (Paintback – for unwanted paint and packaging)
  • There were no waste reduction and recycling plans identified at planning entity and sector/s of reporting entities’ level.

Annual waste data survey

The Recycling and waste in Queensland report is largely informed by the Annual Waste Data Survey.

The survey captures data about waste generation, resource recovery, treatment and disposal in Queensland. This year’s data was derived from surveys submitted by 365 reporting entities, including local governments, state government departments, private landfill operators, recyclers, organic processors, waste transporters, and operators of transfer stations, incinerators, and industrial and mining monofills.

It also provides a range of government and industry stakeholders across the entire state with access to high quality, accurate waste data, while protecting survey respondent privacy and commercial confidentiality. Such data is critical to stakeholder planning and decision making at both the micro and macro level and ensures better productivity, with more likelihood of opportunities being identified and leveraged, and challenges managed.

See the glossary of terms used in recycling and waste report for further clarification.

Previous reports

Open data sources

Last updated:
16 June 2022
Last reviewed:
27 June 2024
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