Almost 100 per cent of printed newspapers have been diverted from landfill under an industry-led product stewardship scheme for the recycling of newspapers and magazines approved by the Albanese Government.
The voluntary National Environmental Sustainability Agreement – newspapers and magazines product stewardship arrangement has been officially accredited, helping to drive Australia’s transition to a circular economy.
The scheme is administered by ThinkNewsBrands, a consortium of Australia’s major national news publishing media companies including Nine, News Corp Australia and Seven West Media.
Under the scheme, news publishing media companies commit to using sustainable fibres and non-hazardous inks to support safe recycling, and to recycle unsold products.
The industry-led scheme has been operating for over 30 years and reports it has supported an increase in printed news recycling rates from 28 per cent in 1989 to 61 per cent in 2023. Last year, only 0.2 per cent of all printed newspapers went to landfill.
Accreditation has strengthened the scheme, providing members with deeper compliance obligations and reporting criteria for environmental initiatives – from energy efficiencies to waste reduction strategies.
The Government’s accreditation process is strict, with schemes assessed against criteria including whether they promote a circular economy, maximise the continued use of products and materials, and protect the environment and human health.
Product stewardship puts circular economy principles into action for products and materials – keeping valuable resources circulating longer to protect our environment and communities.
