The renewable power of consumer goods made from sustainable Australian forest products should be celebrated for their key role in our recycling ecosystem this week’s National Recycling Week, according to Australian Forest Products Association CEO Diana Hallam. Source: Timberbiz
National Recycling Week from 11-17 November is a prominent Planet Ark campaign celebrated annually during the second week of November and aims to educate Australians about the importance of recycling and recycling correctly.
“The good news is that many of the products Australia’s forest industries create are recyclable. Everything from paper and cardboard packaging to tissue products, coffee cups and the repurposing of softwood and hardwood timbers – the forest products sector’s contribution to recycling is enormous. Our products also store carbon which helps fight climate change,” Ms Hallam said.
“Consumer demands around the enhanced need for recycling is also driving innovation in our industry, for example with evolution of compostable wood fibre coffee cups – reducing the need for such products to go to landfill.
“The effort of our local pulp and paper industries is huge in this area. They recycle more than 1.8 million tonnes of recovered paper and cardboard annually, using it to make new office paper, boxes, gift cards, tissue, paper towel and more.
“Paper products can be recycled many times over and when paper has reached the end of its useful life it can be composted, and its nutrients returned to the soil. In terms of recycling and reuse, we are the model industry for a circular economy.
“Our products also play the additional role providing an alternative to non-renewable and other carbon intensive products – from single use plastics right through to building and construction products.
“Finally, timber and fibre processing facilities also recycle and reuse their residue products like sawdust, which is used to create renewable heat and power, reducing reliance on external energy sources.
“The forest products sector contributes a great deal to the national recycling ecosystem in a variety of ways. This National Recycling Week we celebrate that contribution as the nation and the world become more conscious about recycling importance,” Ms Hallam said.
