The report presents key information on waste management and resource recovery and draws on a range of published sources, commissioned research and information from states and territories. It is the first step towards establishing baseline data and developing a comprehensive account of waste issues which can be used by industry, government and the community to make informed and timely decisions. As well as presenting national, state and territory waste data, the report discusses: the costs and impacts of landfill; recycling; hazardous waste; organic waste and litter; and describes how we managed waste in the past, our current arrangements and emerging issues and trends.