Victorian Recycling Industry Annual Survey 2011–12
Construction and demolition waste recovery in Victoria 2011–12
The Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey 2011–12 was conducted between August 2012 and January 2013 and
sought data from 66 Victorian reprocessors, excluding 43 plastic reprocessors surveyed as part of the 2011-12 National
Plastics Recycling Survey. A total of 51 reprocessors – or 77% 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 Industry Annual Survey 2011-12 report, please refer to the
Sustainability Victoria website www.sustainability.vic.gov.au
The information presented is an extract of the construction and demolition waste recovery figures from the report.
Recovery and trends
Construction and demolition materials accounted for 44% of all material recovered in Victoria in 2011–12, falling 16% to almost
3.5 million tonnes. This is the first time that Construction & Demolition recovery has fallen since 2007–08 and industry sources
have suggested that this reduction is directly attributable to a downturn in the number of overall construction projects being
undertaken in the State.
This downturn in the construction sector resulted in reductions of 20—30% in many of the Construction & Demolition material
categories with Brick / brick rubble, Rock / excavation stone and Soil & sand falling 30%, 26% and 21% respectively.
Composition of construction and demolition material recovered for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2011–12
2011-12
Asphalt
6%
Soil / sand
3%
Brick whole / brick
rubble
10%
Rock / excavation
stone
21%
Plasterboard
1%
Mixed construction
and demolition
waste
7%
Concrete
52%
Figure 2 Construction and demolition waste recovered for reprocessing, Victoria 2002-03 to 2011-12
4.5
4.0
Tonnes (million)
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
Sources of recyclables
The vast majority of construction and demolition material recovered in Victoria (96%) is sourced directly from commercial and
council works sites, which provide a steady stream of concrete, brick rubble, asphalt, rock and excavation stone.
Figure 3 Source sectors of construction and demolition material received for reprocessing (by weight), Victoria 2011-12
2010-11
Municipal
4%
Commercial &
industrial
1%
Construction &
demolition
95%
Industry sources have cited growing integration between Victoria’s construction, demolition and recycling industries, as well as the
increasing use of recycled concrete in the construction of roads, pavements and other civil infrastructure as some of the primary
reasons for the improved recovery.
Construction and demolition waste material recovered in Victoria for reprocessing over the past 12 years, Victoria 2002-03 to 2011-12
Mixed
demolition
and
construction
Rock /
excavation
stone
Soil &
sand
Total
construction and
demolition waste
recovered
21
293
42
1,852
22
428
49
2,618
-
24
367
68
2,492
-
27
419
209
2,913
1,695
81
22
505
239
3,170
293
1,717
111
33
668
72
3,047
226
244
1,731
91
37
656
170
3,155
2009-10
196
518
2,438
81
27
452
108
3,823
2010-11
223
497
2,174
167
32
980
118
4,193
2011-12
229
350
1,829
246
34
723
93
3,502
Asphalt
Brick /
brick
rubble
Concrete
2002–03
84
250
1,161
-
2003–04
170
425
1,525
-
2004–05
162
395
1,477
2005–06
139
385
1,734
2006–07
190
438
2007–08
152
2008–09
Plasterboard
Tonnes (‘000)