Environmental Benefits of Recycling (PDF 1.04MB) (June 2010) uses a life cycle assessment methodology to examine the potential environmental impacts of recycling across a range of material types.
The system boundary for the study begins at the point of waste generation and encompasses processes required to either recycle the waste material or treat it in landfill, and to measure landfill space savings, greenhouse gas abatement, and energy and water conservation impacts.
The following summary sheets provide more information on each of the material types modelled
- Metals (PDF 2.13MB): aluminium, copper and steel
- Building materials (PDF 420KB): concrete, brick, asphalt and paperboard
- Paper and cardboard (PDF 643KB): packaging paper and board, newsprint, liquid paper board and office paper
- Organics (PDF 256KB): timber pallets, food and garden organics combined, and garden organics
- Glass (PDF 323KB): glass containers, sheet and laminated glass
- Plastics (PDF 745KB): PET, HDPE, PVC, mixed plastics and rubber tyres
- Assumptions (PDF 337KB): explains the collection, treatment, material recovery and energy assumptions.
