November 20, 2009
Embargoed 11.30 am AEDT
87/2009
Australian households embrace recycling - e-waste an exception: ABS
Almost every Australian household (99%) participated in some form of recycling or reusing of waste,
according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
However, nearly a quarter (23%) of electronic equipment and more than half (51%) of household appliances
disposed of in the 12 months prior to March 2009 were placed with the non-recycled garbage for kerbside
collection.
Paper/cardboard/newspapers were recycled or reused the most (95% of households), followed by plastic
bottles (94%), glass (93%) and plastic bags (90%).
Just over half (51%) of Australian households recycled or reused kitchen or food waste.
Australians increased their use of public transport to get to work or full-time study over the past decade,
rising from 12% in 2000 to 14% in 2009. However, the overwhelming majority of Australians still travelled by
car -- 80% in March 2009 compared to 82% in 2000.
New South Wales and Victoria had the highest level of public transport use at 17%. This is a 4% increase for
Victoria (up from 13% in 2000) Victoria, but a 1% drop (from 18%) in New South Wales.
The main reasons reported for not using public transport were 'no service available at the right/convenient
time' (27%), 'no service available at all' (26%) and 'convenience/comfort/privacy in private vehicle' (22%).
Half of Australian households had at least one working bicycle kept at their home. Bicycle ownership was
highest in the Australian Capital Territory (66% of households) and lowest in New South Wales (46%).
About 6% of people usually walked or cycled to work in 2009, steady since 2000.
Further information can be found in Environmental Issues: Waste Management and Transport Use (cat. no.
4602.0.55.002).
Media note:
When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Media requests and interviews
Corporate Communications 1300 175 070
Statistical Clarification
Graeme Brown 02) 6252 5920
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