Shire trials soft plastics collection

IN AN effort to keep soft plastics out of landfill, the Surf Coast Shire is trialling a limited-term collection and drop-off arrangement.

As part of the trial, local residents are encouraged to collect their soft plastics throughout this month and drop them off at designated points over three days at the start of August.

“We know many people in our community are frustrated with having no alternative but to send soft plastics to landfill, creating waste and losing material that could be recovered and turned into something else,” the shire’s general manager of placemaking and environment Chris Pike said.

The number of recyclers accepting soft plastics is limited since the collapse of the REDcycle program in 2022.

Bin audits completed in 2023 showed soft plastics accounted for 3.6 per cent of landfill bin content and were a key contaminant in kerbside recycling and food and gardening organics.

Results and feedback from the trial will help determine if longer-term and cost-effective soft plastics collection is possible.

“Council has introduced the collection trial to help explore the viability of longer-term soft plastics recycling possibilities,” Mr Pike said.

“We encourage people to participate in the trial. Early feedback from our community has been really positive welcoming the initiative.”

Following the collection of the soft plastics, they will then be sent off to Melbourne where they will be converted back into soft plastics or road products.

The council will be able to track the plastics, ensuring recycling partners are not overwhelmed by the demand.

Soft plastics are flexible packaging that can be easily scrunched in hands including bubble wrap, cling wrap, ziplock bags and more.

All soft plastic must be clean and dry with any food, labels and staples removed.

Collection points can be found in Anglesea, Lorne, Winchelsea and Torquay.

For more information, the full list of accepted items and drop off times and dates, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au