Australia’s ports pioneer new recycling effort for international ships

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry are conducting a trial to bolster recycling efforts for international ships docking at Australian ports.

In a news release, AMSA said this initiative aims to explore and expand the recycling options available for waste generated by commercial and cruise ships.

Six key ports across Australia are actively participating in this groundbreaking trial. Various categories of recyclable materials, including plastics and glass, are being collected from these international vessels.

The data gathered from this initiative will contribute to a comprehensive maritime recycling risk assessment.

This assessment will evaluate the biosecurity risks associated with different types of recyclable materials and determine which categories can be safely integrated into Australia’s local recycling processes after proper mitigation of biosecurity threats.

AMSA reported that historical research indicates that many recyclable materials from international ships pose low biosecurity risks and could be diverted from landfills to domestic recycling systems.

However, Australia’s stringent biosecurity regulations currently classify much of this waste as biosecurity waste, leading to its disposal in landfills.

This practice not only undermines recycling efforts but also misses a significant opportunity to enhance sustainability, AMSA noted.

It added that this trial represents a crucial step in aligning with global sustainability practices and protecting the marine environment.