Plastic Free July – it’s a challenge

Soft Plastic Recycling: What Are Our Local Options?

If you’ve been wondering what to do with your soft plastics since the REDcycle bins disappeared from our local supermarkets, you’re not alone. With Plastic Free July in full swing, it’s the perfect time to explore how our community can continue to reduce waste, even without a perfect system in place.

The good news? Soft plastic recycling hasn’t disappeared entirely, it’s just become a little trickier.

Local residents can now take separated soft plastics to the Awaba Waste Management Facility. Just a heads-up: closed-in shoes are a must at the tip, and the soft plastics must be kept apart from other recycling materials.

For those wanting a more supermarket-style drop-off, Woolworths is currently running a soft plastics recycling trial. Participating stores include Mount Hutton, Charlestown, Cardiff and Glendale. This trial is part of a broader plan being developed by the Australian Food and Grocery Council, in collaboration with major supermarkets, to reintroduce a national soft plastics collection program.

The catch? There’s still no firm timeline, and the path from collection to actual recycling into usable products, like park benches or furniture, remains unclear.

As outlined in a recent response to local sustainability advocate Steve Dewar, the Boomerang Alliance has been advocating for federal-level producer responsibility. In the meantime, they recommend that communities like ours reach out directly to our Woolworths via Facebook Messenger to express interest in joining the trial.

They also encourage locals to support their “Cut the Wrap” campaign, which is calling for stronger government action. You can add your voice here:

Sign the open letter: www.cutthewrap.org.au/openletter

Write to your MP: www.cutthewrap.org.au/mpletter

So while we may not have a perfect solution just yet, there are ways we can keep soft plastics out of landfill, and show there’s strong community demand for a better system.