Plastic Waste in Australia
11
The
Australian Plastic Flows and Fates Study
estimates that by 2049
–
50, plastic
consumption will increase by 155% (compared to 2020-21 figures), to 9.7 million tonnes per
annum, as shown in Figure 3 below:
Figure 3: Projected Australian plastics consumption 2009
–
10 to 2049
–
50 (million tonnes)
Source:
Australian Plastic Flows and Fates Study 2020-21
(2022)
57
To put the data in Figure 3 into perspective, Australia’s
plastic consumption is expected to
increase more than two-and-a-half times
–
from 72 Sydney Harbour Bridges per year in
2020
–
21 to 185 bridges per year in 2049
–
50.
58
Consumption is also expected to grow on a
per capita basis over the next 30 years: from 147 kg per person in 2020
–
21 to 260 kg in
2049
–
50.
59
This means that
, according to the government’s own projections,
each person is
expected to consume 77% more plastic by 2049
–
50.
60
The significant increase in our consumption of plastics is driving the plastic waste crisis. If
Australia is to reduce plastic waste, it must reduce plastic consumption. As the following
sections show, efforts to recycle or recover plastic after its initial use have proven to be
ineffective. The evidence suggests that the problem must be tackled at the source.
57
DCCEEW (2022)
Australian Plastics Flows and Fates Study 2020
–
21: National report,
p 34
58
The Sydney Harbour Bridge (total weight of the steelwork including arch and steel approach spans) weighs
52,000 tonnes. Transport for NSW (2014)
Bridge Facts
59
DCCEEW (2022)
Australian Plastics Flows and Fates Study 2020
–
21,
p 31; Author’s calculations fr
om
Australian Plastics Flows and Fates Study
data. Difference in per capita consumption (kg) 2020
–
21 to 2049
–
50 as a percentage of per capita consumption (kg) in 2020
–
21.
60
Ibid.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2009
–
10 2014
–
15 2019
–
20 2020
–
21 2024
–
25 2029
–
30 2034
–
35 2039
–
40 2044
–
45 2049
–
50