Hazardous waste generated in Australia
Australia: Hazardous waste generated was 6.47 million tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
6.47 million tonnes
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
21st
of 99 countries
All-time high
8.01 million tonnes
in 2019
All-time low
4.50 million tonnes
in 2009
Years of data
14
2007–2023
Hazardous waste generated in Australia, 2007–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Australia recorded 6.47 million tonnes for hazardous waste generated in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hazardous waste generated in Australia peaked at 8.01 million tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 4.50 million tonnes, in 2009.
Australia ranks 21st of 99 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Hazardous waste generated in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 4.80 million tonnes | — |
| 2009 | 4.50 million tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 4.60 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 4.97 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 5.98 million tonnes | +20.4% |
| 2015 | 5.43 million tonnes | -9.2% |
| 2016 | 5.80 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 6.49 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 2018 | 7.92 million tonnes | +22.0% |
| 2019 | 8.01 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 7.38 million tonnes | -7.9% |
| 2021 | 7.37 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 6.60 million tonnes | -10.4% |
| 2023 | 6.47 million tonnes | -2.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 6.47 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 654,868 tonnes, 9.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Australia's 6.47 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.59 million tonnes, 2.5× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.65 million tonnes | 4.50 million tonnes | 4.80 million tonnes | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.15 million tonnes | 4.60 million tonnes | 8.01 million tonnes | 8 |
| 2020s | 6.95 million tonnes | 6.47 million tonnes | 7.38 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 18 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 8.45 million tonnes compare
- 18 United Kingdom 8.45 million tonnes compare
- 20 Sweden 7.17 million tonnes compare
- 22 Republic of Korea 6.17 million tonnes compare
- 22 South Korea 6.17 million tonnes compare
- 24 Malaysia 5.84 million tonnes compare
More environment data for Australia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6708 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.0861 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is hazardous waste generated in Australia?
- Hazardous waste generated in Australia was 6.47 million tonnes in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest hazardous waste generated recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.01 million tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest hazardous waste generated recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.50 million tonnes in 2009.
- How does Australia rank for hazardous waste generated?
- Australia ranks 21st out of 99 countries with data for 2023.
- Is hazardous waste generated rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Hazardous waste generated (Tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).