Australia has hit a new high in recycling of its newspapers, with a national average of 73.5% for 2003, according to the annual report on the recovered newsprint market from the Publishers National Environment Bureau (PNEB).

The report, produced for the PNEB by the News Limited Environmental Secretariat, showed that Australia used 718,482 tonnes of newsprint in 2003 and recovered 528,393 tonnes. This was up from 681,766 tonnes consumed and 496,631 recycled for a national rate of 72.8% in 2002. Frank Kelett, PNEB executive director, said the 2003 figures for the USA had not been released but Australia had been in front since 1997 and he believed the latest Australian figure was the best in the world.

Gains in recycling rates were achieved across Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria. The best performers were NSW and Victoria on 77% each, followed by the ACT on 74.6% and WA on 70.6%.

Following the story, the Herald Sun reported that Environment Minister John Thwaites said a jump in newsprint reuse in the past year had made Victoria the No. 1 newsprint recycler in the world. Mr Thwaites said it demonstrated the commitment of Victorians to improve the environment. "Australia‘‘s newspaper recycling rate, averaging 74.5 per cent, is recognised to be the highest of any country in the world," he said. "Victoria‘‘s newspaper recycling rate is the highest of any state and well above this national average, making us the best recyclers across the globe."

Nationally 575,000 tonnes of the 772,000 tonnes of newsprint used was diverted from landfill last year. Victoria, which consumed 208,000 tonnes of newspapers, recorded the largest jump in recycling, from 77 per cent in 2003 to 80.3 per cent last year. Mr Thwaites said the rise was due to a range of factors including education programs, the introduction of mixed material recycling bins and the efforts of Victorians. "State and local government have continued to invest in recycling infrastructure, through initiatives like co-mingled recycling, to make recycling simpler and more efficient," he said.

"Many councils are now reporting increases in the recycling rate by more than 100 per cent compared to the results achieved with previous systems."

He said the Government‘‘s waste agency, EcoRecycle Victoria, was working with local government, community groups and businesses