EARTHCHAT: The Return of Soft Plastics Recycling to Australia

Listen at noon, Tuesday 20th October on SeymourFM

This week on EarthChat, Jill Grant discusses the return of soft plastics recycling to Australia and the exciting implications of having a method of dealing with this waste stream again.

Australia produces around 70 billion pieces of soft plastic (the “scrunchable” light coverings used in packaging such as chip packets, wrappers, biscuit packets and even bubble wrap and cling film)

Prior to November 2022 a company called REDcycle was taking these plastics and doing a great job in converting them into other formats and taking them out of landfill.  Unfortunately the supply outstripped the infrastructure and storage capacity to deal with it and the company folded. However, since the establishment of Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA) and a series of innovative new companies investing in the conversion of the waste, we are back on track to deal with this in a constructive way.

Woolworths, Coles and Aldi are collecting packaging again and some Councils are running their own pilot programs to get the supply growing so that new products can be made from the waste plastic including packaging that can be recycled many times, an aggregate that can be used in concrete manufacture (significantly reducing carbon outputs and even a technology for converting the plastic to biofuels.

This will significantly improve resource recovery and overall environmental outcomes.

Case studies at several sites in Australia and potential actions for Mitchell Shire residents to participate at home. work, school and other venues will be discussed in more detail.

All on this week's EarthChat. Tune in at 12noon on Tuesday, 20th October.

Can't listen to the radio show? Catch up on Apple Podcasts,  Spotify, Podbean and the BEAM website. It is easy to EarthChat!