How We Are Recovering Waste

Australia recycles a higher percentage of its municipal waste than the OECD benchmark.

41% of Australia’s municipal waste is recycled compared to the 25% in the OECD area. South Korea recycles the most at 64%.

9.2% of Australia’s municipal waste is used for energy recovery.

Many European countries have high rates of energy recovery from municipal waste. However, it is Japan that has the highest rate with 74% of their municipal waste being recovered for energy. 

NameMunicipal Waste Recycled (%) *Data YearMunicipal Waste Energy Recovery (%) *
Australia28%2018/19 9.2%**
Austria26%201939%
Belgium34%201942%
Chile0%
Colombia
Costa Rica3%
Czech Republic23%201917%
Denmark34%201948%
Estonia30%201948%
Finland29%201956%
France26%201934%
Germany48%201932%
Greece16%20191%
Hungary27%201914%
Iceland19%20171%
Ireland30%201843%
Israel7%20192%
Italy32%201920%
Japan20%201874%
Latvia35%20193%
Lithuania31%201917%
Luxembourg30%201947%
Netherlands28%201941%
New Zealand
Norway30%201949%
Poland25%201922%
Portugal13%201920%
Slovakia27%20195%
Slovenia52%201916%
South Korea64%201823%
Spain18%201911%
Sweden32%201953%
Switzerland30%201947%
Turkey12%20190%
United Kingdom27%201838%
United States of America25%201813%
Canada20%
Mexico5%
OECD MSW Recycling
National Waste Report 2020