‘Nowhere To Go’: Sydney Faces Waste Crisis As Landfill Space Runs Out

Sydney residents may see their red rubbish bins go uncollected in just six years as landfill space is projected to run out, prompting the state government to declare that urgent action is needed.

The NSW Labor government has warned that a decade of inaction by previous administrations has left Greater Sydney on the verge of a waste crisis. Without intervention, landfill space is expected to run out by 2030.

The state of NSW’s waste and recycling was made public on Friday at the NSW Circular Economy Summit in Sydney, hosted by NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) CEO Tony Chappel. 

The Summit gathered representatives from industry, environmental groups, local government and state government to address the challenges and opportunities facing the state.

Without new waste and recycling solutions, Greater Sydney’s landfill capacity is set to be exhausted within the next decade. This landfill issue would significantly drive waste management costs up for households and businesses.

Urgent Action Required as Sydney Faces Landfill Crisis

NSW Minister for Environment Penny Sharpe emphasised the urgent need for government action, stating, “Sydney is running out of landfill space and our recycling rates have stagnated. We are at a point that if we don’t take urgent action, our red bins won’t be able to be collected in a few years.”

“Previous Governments were briefed on this issue, and there was no action for over a decade. Industry and councils have been crying out for support and leadership. We’re stepping up to the plate.” 

According to the NSW Environment Protection Authority, during the 2022-23 financial year period, a total of 22.4 million tonnes of waste was generated, exceeding the five-year average of 21.9 million tonnes. 

This increase was primarily due to higher amounts of commercial, industrial, and construction waste, while municipal solid waste experienced a slight decline compared to the previous year.

The overall recycling rate in NSW for 2022-23 stood at 66%, reflecting an increase from the 2015-16 baseline of 63%. However, this is not nearly enough. 

The EPA has reported that the recycling rate has plateaued while waste generation has continued to increase since 2015.

Commitment to Reducing Landfill Waste & Promoting Sustainability

“We know the public wants to see less waste in landfill, use less plastic and support recycling and we want to help them do their bit. Together we can fix the problem and create a more sustainable future,” Minister Sharpe said. 

The Summit focused on the need for a collaborative approach to transition to a circular economy, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss accelerating this shift.

NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) CEO Tony Chappel declared that the state was at a “critical juncture”, and needed to take immediate action to ensure the infrastructure could accommodate increasing waste volumes, while maximising recycling and recovery efforts. 

“By working together across government, industry and communities, we’re building a future where waste becomes a resource, not a burden,” Chappel said.