A Waste Supply-Use Analysis of Australian Waste Flows

In this paper we apply the Lenzen and Reynolds (2014) Waste Supply Use Table extension of Nakamura and Kondo’s (2002a) Waste Input–Output (WIO) framework to the 2008 Australian economy. This is the first application of any WIO-style method to Australia as a nation. We find that the Services sector has the largest direct and indirect waste generation for an intermediate sector. This is followed by the Forestry sector, for direct waste generation, and the Transport sector for direct and indirect waste generation effects. In terms of waste treatment methods, landfill generates the smallest direct and indirect waste tonnages, but it also provides the least amount of economic activity per tonne treated, producing $US2.53 in total of economic production per tonne treated.