Waste Strategy

Zero Waste SA’s state-wide waste strategy – which is also the first for South Australia – was developed jointly by state and local government agencies, the waste management industry, business and the community, to ensure a healthy environment for South Australians, now and into the future. Read South Australia's waste strategy here (PDF, 1Mb)

This five-year strategy is focused on five key aims.

  1. Foster sustainable behaviour: information alone doesn’t influence people to recycle or re-use material and resources sustainably.
  2. Redirect waste: by redirecting materials to more beneficial uses, substantially less waste will go to landfill.
  3. Establish effective systems: South Australia must establish, maintain and increase the capacity of its recycling systems and re-processing infrastructure in metropolitan and regional areas.
  4. Enact policies: introducing economic, regulatory and other policy measures will encourage avoidance, reduction, re-use and recycling of waste.
  5. Encourage cooperation: our targets can only be reached with the participants’ cooperation.

Strategy targets

The strategy also sets a deadline for achieving key material and recycling targets for each waste stream, as in the table below.                                       

Key material recovery and recycling targets
Waste stream By 2006 By 2008 By 2010 By 2014
Municipal solid waste At least 25% of all material presented at the kerbside is recycled 50% of all material presented at the kerbside is recycled 75% of all material presented at the kerbside is recycled (if food waste is included)

 

 

Reduce waste to landfill by 25% (as required by South Australia’s Strategic Plan)

 

 
Commercial and industry 5% increase in recovery and use of C & I materials 15% increase in recovery and use of
C & I materials		 30% increase in recovery and use of
C & I materials
Construction and demolition 20% increase in recovery and use of
C & D materials		 35% increase in recovery and use of
C & D materials		 50% increase in recovery and use of
C & D materials

Mid-term review

A mid-term review of the strategy is being undertaken. For further information contact Ian Harvey on telephone 8204 1954 or email Ian Harvey