Soft plastics recycling trial coming soon
A soft plastics recycling pilot trial will soon be underway in Queensland, with the aim to test different ways for consumers to return and process problematic soft plastics.
On the Sunshine Coast, trials are set to begin in 2025 as part of a broader statewide initiative. These efforts aim to create a sustainable, scalable, and transparent system to manage soft plastic waste effectively.
In a statement from September 2024, the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation declared that in partnership with Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia Limited, a pilot soft plastics recycling scheme would be conducted in Queensland.
Under the pilot, trial hubs will be established in locations across Queensland to test different ways to allow people to return soft plastic packaging.
The trials will start in Brisbane before the end of the year, with the Sunshine Coast, Goondiwindi and Cairns to follow.
The hubs will trial a variety of collection options over a 12-month period to see what works best for urban, regional and remote Queenslanders.
Background: What Happened?
The REDcycle program, which collected soft plastics at supermarkets, halted in 2022 due to operational challenges.
REDcycle’s collection volumes far exceeded available recycling capacity, leading to stockpiling of over 11,000 tonnes of waste.
This exposed significant gaps in Australia’s recycling infrastructure for soft plastics and the lack of established markets for recycled materials.
The trials
The Queensland government, in collaboration with Soft Plastic Stewardship Australia (SPSA) and supported by industry players like Woolworths and Coles, is trialing a new recycling model. These trials explore diverse collection methods, such as:
- Kerbside yellow-lid bin programs
- In-store collection points
- Council and community drop-off hubs
The Sunshine Coast is among the trial locations, following Brisbane’s initial rollout later this year. The goal is to identify the most effective system tailored to both urban and regional needs.
Challenges and Future Steps
Recycling soft plastics remains complex due to contamination, sorting difficulties, and limited end markets for recycled materials.
The trials aim to develop local processing capabilities and innovative uses for recycled plastics, such as road construction materials and packaging additives. These measures are part of broader moves toward a circular economy.
As trials progress, updates will be shared to encourage participation and ensure a sustainable approach to managing soft plastics.
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