Soft plastics recycling

You can drop off soft plastics for recycling at the collection point at McRobies Gully Waste Management Centre (The Tip).

Recycling soft plastics is free of charge, but disposal of other items will cost usual waste fee.

What happens to the soft plastics?

We have partnered with RecycleSmart. They collect the soft plastics and send them to one of their soft plastics recyclers.

What are the soft plastics recycled into?

Once collected, soft plastics are taken to consolidation points. There they are weighed for traceability and reporting purposes. Then they are baled and transported to our vetted recyclers.

Here's what they get turned into:

Feedstock oil for new plastic packaging

Soft plastics are turned into feedstock oil and then further processed into resin, used in food grade plastic packaging.

Asphalt additive

Soft plastics are mixed with toner powder from printer cartridges to create an asphalt additive used inroad construction.

Building material and insulation

Soft plastics are processed and manufactured into roof panels,kitchen benches, walls, etc.

Items and outdoor furniture

Soft plastics are processed into pellets used to manufacture fences, baskets, bottle lids, etc.

For more information and FAQs about soft plastics and the recycling process, visit the RecycleSmart website.

What is accepted?

Any clean and dry soft plastics that can easily be scrunched in your hand.

Biscuit packaging (not trays)
Bread bags
Bubble wrap
Cereal box liners
Plastic film
Plastic sachets
Shopping and grocery bags
Silver-lined chip bags
Confectionery packets and bags
Fresh produce bags (including string bags)
Frozen food bags
Squeeze pouches
Sturdy pet food bag with 'return to store' label
Zip lock bags
'Return to store' labelled packaging

Only household soft plastics are accepted, not business waste.

Although recycling soft plastics is now available, we can all do our bit to reduce how much plastic we are using. Visit our Waste Reduction Resources page for more information and tips.