Australia's Newsprint Reuse Leading the World

According to figures published by the Australian National Environmental Protection Agency Publishers (PNEB), Australia’s recycling and recycling of waste newspapers is a world leader.

In 2002, 72.8% of newsprint consumed in Australia was recycled, up from 72.4% in 2001. Last year, the U.S. recycling rate was 71.2%.

The National Environmental Protection Agency's publisher (PNEB) and Australian newsprint manufacturer Norske Skog developed a five-year industrial waste reduction agreement with the federal government and state governments. By the end of 2005, the recycling rate of waste newspapers reached 74%.

Among all recyclable products in Australia, the old newspapers have the highest recycling rate, and the recycled fibers account for 20%-55% of newsprint production.

In 2002, a total of 496,631 tons of old newspapers were collected from the municipal well committee and recycled from printed waste paper and newspaper and periodical distributors. Of these, 97,934 tons were sent to the Norske Skog plant in Albury for deinking, newsprint production, and 55,000 tons of old magazine paper.

There are 193,487 tons for the production of cardboard. In addition, 164,073 tons of exports, mainly exported to Asia, are used almost entirely to produce newsprint, and the remaining 41137 tons are used to produce household insulation materials, pet paper and egg trays.