Archives - In the News - PNEB - Newspaper and Magazine Recycling

Home

Headlines

Australia Reaches New Heights in Newspaper Recycling

Australia has hit a new high in recycling of its newspapers, with a national average of 73.5% for 2003, according to the annual report on the recovered newsprint market from the Publishers National Environment Bureau (PNEB).

The report, produced for the PNEB by the News Limited Environmental Secretariat, showed that Australia used 718,482 tonnes of newsprint in 2003 and recovered 528,393 tonnes. This was up from 681,766 tonnes consumed and 496,631 recycled for a national rate of 72.8% in 2002.

Loader with old newspapers and magazines

Printers’ waste, old newspapers and old magazines in the receiving bay at Norske Skog’s recycling and de-inking plant at Albury NSW. Picture: Norske Skog.

Frank Kelett, PNEB executive director, said the 2003 figures for the USA had not been released but Australia had been in front since 1997 and he believed the latest Australian figure was the best in the world.

Commenting on the figures, Tony Wilkins, News Limited Environmental Secretariat manager said the rise was despite the increase in newsprint used of about 37,000 tonnes above 2002. Both paperboard and newsprint manufacture consumed more old newspapers. Exports dropped marginally despite stable/rising prices.

Gains in recycling rates were achieved across Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria. The best performers were NSW and Victoria on 77% each, followed by the ACT on 74.6% and WA on 70.6%.

Other state percentages were: Queensland 68.3%; South Australia 65%; and Tasmania 64.8%.