About us - PNEB - Newspaper and Magazine Recycling

History

The Early Days

As a nation we have been recycling paper for over a hundred years. In the past, limited available technology meant that this paper was almost always converted into cardboard.

Over time, the technology required to remove inks and process old newspapers into newsprint was developed. The new technology had environmental issues that had to be resolved for an Australian situation and the sensitive Murray River catchment.

There were also quality issues to consider. Modern high-speed presses needed a paper of consistent quality that had great strength. The use of more colour in modern newspapers also meant that the paper had to be manufactured to meet new print requirements. What was needed was a solution that allowed all these new factors to be properly considered and ensured that, as an industry, we took the right steps to recycle in a sustainable manner.

To make this happen an association was formed between the publishers and the main newsprint suppliers to the industry - Australian Newsprint Mills and New Zealand's Tasman Pulp and Paper (both now part of Norske Skog Australasia).

The newsprint producing companies formed a joint venture called Kerbside Papers, which set out to buy used newspapers from local councils’ kerbside collections.

The two producing companies and the PNEB agreed to work together to form an Industry Group under the auspices of the Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC). ANZECC was an association of Australian government Environment Ministers (Federal, State and Territory) together with the Environment Minister from New Zealand. Papua New Guinea also had observer status on the Council.

The organisation has been superseded by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC).

The Producer/Publisher Group negotiated a five-year Industry Waste Reduction Agreement for newsprint with ANZECC. The first version was endorsed by ANZECC Ministers in February 1992. Since then two more five year agreements have been implemented. In October 2005 the Environment Ministers meeting as the EPHC endorsed a new National Environmental Sustainability Plan (Newsprint) 2006-2010 which set, among others, a target of 76 per cent newspaper recycling.