Soft plastics trial 2024
The trial has now finished.
Thank you to everyone who participated.
Please remember, soft plastic packaging and plastic bags are NOT accepted in your kerbside recycling bin. Put them in your landfill bin (red lid).
Results of the 2024 trial
Council’s soft plastics drop-off trial in August 2024 was an outstanding success with 890 kilograms of plastic packaging (that’s the equivalent weight of a small car) baled and sent to a recycler in Melbourne.
Residents were invited to collect soft plastics purchased during July, and then drop them off for free at Council’s waste facilities over three days in early August.
Almost 500 residents dropped off soft plastics in 1,328 bags of varying sizes during the three days. 367 people who participated in the trial also provided feedback via an online survey.
According to their feedback:
- 80% of the soft plastic was collected in the month of July.
- 12% of participants have been collecting soft plastics since the closure of the REDCycle program in November 2022.
- Packaging from food accounted for most soft plastics, followed by packaging from online purchases e.g. bubble wrap & air pillows.
What happens next?
After evaluating the trial data and feedback, Council officers have been exploring recycling options for a long-term soft plastics collection, including visits to soft plastics recycling facilities in Melbourne.
Establishment of an ongoing soft plastics collection is also reliant on construction of collection and storage infrastructure at Anglesea Transfer Station. Recyclers require all soft plastics collected at transfer stations to be stored undercover because moisture significantly impacts the processing efficiency.
Building works will start soon at Anglesea Transfer Station including construction of a new shed that will house balers used for baling cardboard, polystyrene, and soft plastics.
The construction works are not expected to be completed until mid-2025.
Where should I put my soft plastics now?
Soft plastic packaging and plastic bags are NOT accepted in your kerbside recycling bin.
Plastic bags, food wrappers, bubble wrap, cling wrap, postal satchels, and plastic sheeting are common contaminants in the recycling bin. They are removed at the recycling sorting facility and sent to landfill.
If you can't safely store your soft plastic packaging at home until the Anglesea facility is operational, put them in your landfill bin (red lid).
If you wish to keep informed of future waste initiatives and events, sign up to receive the Good Sort e-newsletter at www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/goodsort