Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2013-14
Metal waste recovery in Victoria 2013-14
The Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2013-14 was conducted between September 2014 and
January 2015 and sought data from sixty eight (68) Victorian reprocessors, excluding fifty four (54) plastic
reprocessors surveyed as part of the 2013-14 National Plastics Recycling Survey. A total of sixty two (62)
reprocessors responded, estimated between them to account for more than 95% by weight of all material
recovered in Victoria.
For more information or to download a copy of the Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2013-14 report, please
refer to the Sustainability Victoria website www.sustainability.vic.gov.au
The information presented is an extract of the metal waste recovery figures from the report.
Recovery and trends
Victoria’s scrap metal recovery increased by 11% to 1,549,000 tonnes in 2013-14, the largest annual tonnage
recorded.
Steel (including packaging steel) made up the largest proportion of Victoria’s recovered metals, increasing by 11% to
over 1.25 million tonnes. Recovery of Car bodies and Non-ferrous metals increased by 28% and 12% respectively,
while Batteries fell by 4%.
Composition of metals recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2013-14
Aluminium (incl. cans)
6%
Batteries
1%
Car bodies
6%
Nonferrous
6%
Other &
mixed
metals
<1%
Steel (incl.
packaging steel)
81%
The chart below illustrates the overall upward trend in the domestic and export markets for recyclable metals.
Metal waste recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2004-05 to 2013-14
Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2013-14
1.8
1.6
Tonnes (million)
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
Sources of recyclables
The Commercial & industrial sector remains Victoria’s principal source of recovered metals, accounting for 71% of
material received for reprocessing across the state. Both the Commercial & Industrial and the Municipal sectors
increased by 2 percentage points from 2012-13 reaching 71% and 23% respectively. Material sourced from the
Construction & Demolition sector decreased by 4 percentage points contributing to just 6% of all Victorian metals
recovered.
Source sectors of scrap metal received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2013–14
Municipal
23%
Construction
& Demolition
6%
Commercial
& Industrial
71%
Metal waste material recovered in Victoria for reprocessing over the past 10 years, Victoria 2004-05 to 2013-14
Steel (incl.
packaging
steel)
Total metal
waste
recovered
-
951
1,157
-
1,234
1,448
65
1
997
1,261
26
77
206
955
1,350
36
26
77
206
955
1,350
37
153
74
49
1,027
1,408
83
28
135
69
6
1,066
1,389
2011-12
57
4
89
92
9
1,220
1,470
2012-13
93
7
77
78
3
1,131
1,390
2013-14
93
6
99
86
4
1,258
1,548
Aluminium
(incl. cans)
Batteries
2004-05
88
33
65
19
2005-06
83
34
78
19
2006-07
63
15
120
2007-08
51
36
2008-09
51
2009-10
66
2010-11
Car bodies
Non-ferrous
Other &
mixed metals
Tonnes (‘000)