The Australian Bureau of Statistics notes that the average Australian produces over 2,000 kilograms of waste every year. Furthermore, an Australian household purchases $1,266 worth of items that will never be used. These items will eventually go into the garbage.
With these statistics, it’s clear that waste management plays a big role in keeping Australia from drowning in rubbish. Below are some of this year’s waste management trends.
Updated Technologies in Waste Management
Wastewater is any form of water that has been contaminated in any way whether it be thru a commercial or a domestic process. Wastewater treatment is the process of converting wastewater from its contaminated and unusable state into something that can be utilised again for any purpose.
Wastewater management plays a crucial role in every country because good wastewater management ensures the health and safety of its residents. Apart from this, good wastewater management also safeguards the surrounding natural environment.
With this, Australia is investing in new technologies for wastewater management. Scientists are doing research on how to reduce construction costs and at the same time, figuring out how to enhance a facility’s energy efficiency. There is already a growing number of construction contractors and builders who are upgrading their valves and fittings. These upgraded fittings are not metal which means a reduction in the risk of corrosion and contamination during wastewater treatment. This also reduces the chances of a seal leak significantly.
Plastic Pollution Management
You’ve probably heard by now that plastic takes almost forever to decompose (up to 1,000 years!). According to an article from The Guardian, 75% of Australia’s beach rubbish is made up of plastic. In a database collected from 2016 to 2017, of the 2,651,613 pieces of debris found on beaches, about three-quarters of the items are made of plastic. Because of this increasing concern about plastic waste, the Australian government created the National Waste Policy.
The policy hopes to prevent as much as 80% of waste from ending up in landfills by 2030. The same policy also aims to reduce the amount of waste being produced by the county by at least 10% within the same timeline. With this policy, the government is also planning on phasing out the use of plastic, specifically single-use items in the next 11 years. They are also targeting to make plastics 70% compostable or recyclable by 2025.
Better Handling of Food Waste
Australians waste approximately 3.1 million tonnes of edible food annually. At the same time, Australia’s commercial and industrial sector disposes of another 2.2 million tonnes of food. The same department also estimates that food waste costs the Australian economy around $20 billion each year.
With these worrying statistics, the National Food Waste Strategy was launched on 20 November 2017. This initiative aims to cut down Australia’s food waste by half by 2030. The same strategy also aims to fulfil Australia’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also satisfies the country’s commitment to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.
You can also do your part in making sure that Australia becomes cleaner and healthier in the coming years. Lake Macquarie Skips can be your partner in eco-friendly waste disposal. We offer multiple skip bin hire in Lake Macquarie so you can easily dispose of your waste in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
Lake Macquarie Skips has a variety of skip bin sizes available from mini skip bins that can fit almost anywhere to larger sizes that can be used for large scale commercial jobs. Lake Macquarie Skips also offers delivery within 24 hours.
To learn more about Lake Macquarie Skips, keep browsing our site or call 0452 22 55 88 to speak with one of our staff members.
