Sydney landfill shortage

Greater Sydney’s landfill space is expected to run out by 2030 unless urgent action is taken.

Without new waste solutions, landfill capacity will be exhausted within the next decade, significantly driving waste management costs up for households and businesses. This is because many Greater Sydney residents will be paying for their waste to be transported to regional areas for disposal, if landfill capacity runs out.

This added burden will put pressure on households already experiencing the cost-of-living crisis and could slow down the development of critical infrastructure, such as housing for the state’s growing population.

Recycling rates in NSW have stagnated at around 65% since 2015-16, falling short of the 80% target by 2030. The NSW Government is taking action to address the looming waste management shortfall.

Our Circular Economy Summit brought together representatives from industry, environment groups, councils and government to discuss critical challenges and opportunities facing the state.

What is the landfill issue Greater Sydney is facing?

  • Greater Sydney’s landfill capacity is projected to run out by 2030 unless urgent action is taken.
  • This could lead to increased waste management costs for households and businesses.
  • The cost of managing waste from construction and demolition activity is also set to rise, which could slow down the development of critical infrastructure such as housing needed for our growing population.

How would this crisis increase costs for households and businesses?

  • Without urgent action, more waste will need to be transported to regional areas – or even interstate – for processing and disposal, resulting in increased waste management costs for households and businesses.

Why is Greater Sydney running out of landfill?

  • As the population of NSW continues to grow and the amount of waste households produce increases, there is only a certain amount of landfill space remaining to take this waste.
  • What the NSW EPA has heard by talking with our stakeholders is that the planning, development and delivery of new infrastructure is being hampered by significant cost and investment risks, stemming from factors like limited land availability, planning requirements and construction costs.
  • The NSW Government is looking at available options to address this diminishing landfill capacity.

Who is responsible, and what is the solution to the issue?

  • While it’s essential we have infrastructure in place to safely manage waste, the NSW Government is also looking at how we can divert more waste from landfill by reducing waste generation and increasing resource recovery.
  • Addressing our state’s urgent waste challenges is a priority of the government, but we cannot do it in isolation.
  • This is a key reason the NSW Government organised the Circular Economy Summit, to escalate the conversation and seek collaborative solutions with all stakeholders.
  • Avoiding waste where we can and keeping waste streams clean so that they can be recovered and recycled, is also a collective responsibility that will limit the reliance on landfills.
  • This is why the NSW Government is also focused on promoting a circular economy.

What is a circular economy?

  • A circular economy is about changing how we produce, assemble, sell and use products to minimise waste and reduce our environmental impact.
  • It means we will use our resources efficiently and productively, have less waste and emissions, cause less environmental harm, and create new jobs.
  • NSW is transitioning to a circular economy where waste is minimised, and resources are in use for as long as possible.
  • This shift also benefits the NSW economy, stimulating growth in the resource recovery and reuse sectors as well as creating new industries and jobs through innovation and investment.

What is the Circular Economy Summit all about?

  • The Summit brought together representatives from government, industry, environmental groups and regional organisations to discuss upcoming challenges and opportunities facing the NSW waste sector.
  • There were panel discussions, workshops and networking to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and explore solutions for transitioning away from landfill reliance while increasing recycling capacity.
  • The NSW EPA will then work across NSW Government to develop effective policies and regulation to accelerate our safe circular economy transition.

What is residual waste?

  • Residual waste is both putrescible (organic) and non-putrescible (dry material) waste, usually from kerbside red bins that cannot be recycled and ends up in landfill.

What is putrescible waste?

  • Putrescible waste is waste taken from kerbside red bins containing matter that decomposes easily such as food, garden waste and other organics.