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Recycling

Industry Commission inquiry report

Released 22 / 02 / 1991

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  • Contents

Volume 1: Recycling in Australia

Preliminaries
Cover, Copyright, Signing Page, Acknowledgement, Terms of Reference, The Report, Contents, Overview and Findings

1 The Recycling Inquiry
1.1 What is 'recycling'?
1.2 The recycling network

2 Recycling in Australia
2.1 Levels of recycling
2.2 Australia's recycling performance

3 Waste management and recycling
3.1 Waste management alternatives
3.2 Environmental damage costs
3.3 Covering waste management costs
3.4 The form of changes

4 Market for Recyclables
4.1 The supply of recyclables
4.2 The demand for recyclables

5 Recycling and the Environment
5.1 Energy and the greenhouse effect
5.2 Recycling and pollution

6 Recycling and Conservation
6.1 Finite resources
6.2 Renewable resources
6.3 Conclusion

7 Improving Recycling
7.1 Government administration
7.2 Making the market work better
7.3 Direct incentives

A Terms of Reference of Interim Report on Paper Recycling

B List of Participants and Submissions

C Organisations, Companies and Individuals Consulted

D Council Waste Management and Recycling Data

E Markets for Recyclables: The Underlying Economic Structure

F Estimationg Costs and Benefits

G Scarcity Considerations

H Forestry

I Technical Details relating to Chapter 6

J Suggested Newsprint Surcharge

Abbreviations

References

Volume 2: Recycling of Products

Preliminaries
Cover, Copyright, Signing Page, Acknowledgement, Terms of Reference, The Inquiry and Report, Contents

1 Metals
1.1 Aluminium
1.2 Lead
1.3 Copper
1.4 Steel
1.5 Iron
1.6 Sand
1.7 Tin
1.8 Dry-cell batteries

2 Glass
2.1 The extent of glass recycling
2.2 Recycling in other countries
2.3 Factors affecting the extent of glass reprocessing and reuse
2.4 Reuse of glass containers
2.5 Glass reprocessing and reuse by state
2.6 Collection systems
2.7 Costs and benefits of glass recycling
2.8 Government initiatives

3 Plastics
3.1 The extent of recycling
3.2 Recycling activity
3.3 Factors influencing the level of plastics recycling
3.4 Costs and benefits of recycling

4 Paper
4.1 The extent of paper recycling
4.2 Costs and benefits of more paper recycling
4.3 Improving Australia's recycling performance
4.4 Newsprint
4.5 Disposable nappies

5 Other Materials
5.1 Lubricating oil
5.2 Chemicals
5.3 Tyres
5.4 Building and road waste
5.5 Biodegradable organic waste

6 Packaging
6.1 Use of packaging
6.2 The choice of packaging
6.3 Extent of recovery
6.4 Additional costs and benefits involved in the choice of packaging
6.5 Government initiatives

7 Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) and Reuse
7.1 The South Australian scheme
7.2 Deposits payable
7.3 Benefits and costs of CDL
7.4 Would CDL bring net community benefits

8 Government Recycling Initiatives in Australia
8.1 Commonwealth Government
8.2 State and Territory Governments

A Terms of Reference of Interim Report on Paper Recycling

B List of Participants and Submissions

C Organisations, Companies and Individuals Consulted

Abbreviations

References

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