The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) and GECA have signed a Heads of Agreement to deliver a new national certification scheme that will raise the bar for Australia’s recycling industry and build confidence in the quality and integrity of recycled materials.
The Australian Recycling Facilities Standard (ARFS) will provide an independent, credible benchmark for recycler performance—helping governments, businesses and consumers make informed decisions and recognising operators that meet best practice across environmental, quality, health, safety, and operational standards.
Australia’s recycling sector plays a vital role in the shift to a circular economy, yet ongoing inconsistencies, limited transparency, and fragmented risk management approaches have hindered progress and trust. This new standard will help change that—driving improvements in the quality and volume of recyclate while strengthening accountability across the sector.
“This standard is about clarity, credibility and continuous improvement,” said ACOR CEO Suzanne Toumbourou. “It reflects what good looks like now while paving the way for the sector to do even better. By recognising the recyclers who do the right thing, we’re helping to cut through greenwashing, raise expectations, and build long-term confidence in both recycling services and the materials they produce.”
Developed in collaboration with ACOR, the standard will be administered by GECA—Australia’s leading not-for-profit ecolabelling body—under its ISO 14024-compliant certification framework. ACOR will provide strategic direction and deep industry expertise, while GECA will oversee assessment and implementation through an independent assurance process. All GECA certified services are assessed against robust criteria spanning environmental, human health and social impacts, ensuring that certified operators demonstrate leadership across every dimension of sustainability.
“This is the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to a truly circular system in Australia,” said GECA CEO Josh Begbie. “This new standard will help trusted recycling operators demonstrate their commitment to quality, transparency, and safety—while giving procurement teams and the public a clearer way to identify and reward leadership.”
ARFS is also expected to deliver a step change in risk management across the recycling industry. Through robust third-party verification, it will support compliance with regulatory obligations while also encouraging facilities to go beyond baseline requirements.
Key benefits of the ARFS include:
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Boosting confidence in Australian recycling
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Supporting circular economy outcomes and SDG targets
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Supporting federal, state and local government policy objectives, strategy and targets
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Improving risk management, procurement visibility and facility accountability
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Stimulating markets for high-quality recycled materials through green public procurement
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Driving continual improvement in recycling performance and outcomes
Stakeholder consultation is planned for early 2026, followed by a phased rollout.
About ACOR:
The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) is the preeminent industry forum for resource recovery, recycling and remanufacturing, leading Australia’s transition to a circular economy. ACOR represents a growing industry that contributes almost $19?billion in economic value, generating broad social and environmental benefits. Our sector collects, sorts and reprocesses material, and makes new products with recycled content, creating more jobs for Australians – acor.org.au
About GECA:
GECA, formerly Good Environmental Choice Australia, is an independent, purpose-driven not-for-profit established in 2000 with a clear vision – to help create a sustainable future for people and planet. With 25 years of experience, GECA works across the entire lifecycle of products and services to empower better choices. GECA’s lifecycle ecolabelling program – the first of its kind in Australia – certifies products and services against rigorous standards based on ISO 14024, covering environmental, health, and social impacts. geca.eco
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