Soft plastics recycling collection points are being reintroduced at Woolworths stores in Australia following the collapse of the REDcycle program over three years ago. More than 700 Woolworths locations across five states will now accept various soft plastic items, such as chip packets and lolly wrappers, to facilitate easier recycling for consumers. The supermarket began a trial of this initiative in February 2024 in five Victorian stores, with additional locations in South Australia joining recently. Woolworths reports that approximately 40 million pieces of soft plastic, totaling around 310,000 kg, have been collected and processed since the program’s inception. The recycled materials are being repurposed into in-store wall panels and Woolworths-brand bread bags, in partnership with recycling firms saveBOARD, iQRenew, and Plascrete.
Why It Matters
The return of soft plastics recycling is significant given that over 500,000 tonnes of soft plastic packaging is used in Australia annually, with a minimal portion being recycled. The previous REDcycle scheme ended abruptly in November 2022 after it was revealed that over 12,000 tonnes of collected plastics were hoarded rather than recycled. The new initiative by Woolworths aims to address these recycling challenges and increase the volume of soft plastics that are actually processed, contributing to the broader goal of sustainable waste management and reducing environmental impact in Australia.
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