A soft plastics recycling pilot trial will soon be underway in Queensland, with the aim to test different ways for consumers to return and process problematic soft plastics.
The Queensland government, which has invested $1 million into the pilot, has partnered with the newly-formed body Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA) to conduct the soft plastics recycling scheme trial in the state.
“This funding represents a significant step forward for Queensland's recycling efforts, enabling trials in communities across the state to actively contribute to reducing soft plastic waste,” Barry Cosier, interim-CEO of SPSA, told PKN.
SPSA has been formed to coordinate the efforts to date of the AFGC's National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS) and the Soft Plastic taskforce run by the supermarkets Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. SPSA will oversee the trial and contract with the recycling sector to ensure it operates smoothly.
Under the pilot, trial hubs will be established in locations across Queensland to test different ways to allow people to return soft plastic packaging, including in-store collection, kerbside yellow-lid bin collection, council drop-off locations and drop-off at central points, such as container refund points.
Cosier said the trial hubs will help the Soft Plastic Stewardship Australia understand the best solutions for both urban and remote regions, making soft plastic recycling more accessible for everyone, and gathering important data to inform government policy decisions on soft plastics.
“We are excited to see how these hubs will perform across different communities in Queensland. It’s crucial to find a solution for soft plastic recycling methods that work for key urban centres, as well as regional and remote areas, ensuring that all Queenslanders have the opportunity to participate in sustainable waste management.
“This trial, supported by the Queensland government, will allow us to explore how soft plastics can be repurposed into products that serve a meaningful purpose in the marketplace, creating a circular economy that supports environmental sustainability while driving local innovation.”
Cosier also told PKN that a key aim is to gain an understanding of how to build participation rates, identifying the levers required to do so. For a circular system for soft plastic to work, he says, recyclers require surety of feedstock before they invest in infrastructure; and collectors need to know there's infrastructure that can process the collected material. “We need to prevent both stockpiling and stranded assets in any system we design,” he said.
The trials will start in Brisbane before the end of the year, with the Sunshine Coast, Goondiwindi, and Cairns to follow in the coming months.
“The community has made it clear how much they value the ability to recycle soft plastics and want to see it return,” said Leanne Linard, Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef.
“We know they also want to ensure it is sustainable in the long-term, and that’s why it’s so important to discover what works best for Queensland’s varied communities and regions.
“Queenslanders have already returned close to nine billion glass and plastic containers to container refund points under the government's highly successful container refund scheme.
“Because people are used to bringing their containers to these sites we want to see if this model works for returning soft plastics, among other options. It’s also vital that we have cost-effective options for processing the material that are collected and viable end-product markets.”
Assessment of each collection channel will help inform future decisions on which model or mix of collections provide the best approach for the various communities.
The pilots will also help identify potential options for local processing of soft plastics and explore potential end-markets for recycled product. This aims to avoid stockpiling and long-distance transport of soft plastics and to help create local markets and job opportunities.
“Queensland is growing rapidly, and we need to do more to keep waste out of landfill and turn it into useful new products,” Linard added.
“We’re committed to moving towards a circular economy, where as much valuable material as possible is diverted from landfill through reuse, recycling and remanufacturing.”
As part of the trial, the government will work with Central Queensland University to process some of the collected material at its test facilities to assess contamination tolerance levels for various end-products.
This will help refine the messaging for consumers about the types of soft plastic packaging that can be collected, as well as identify viable end-markets for recovered soft plastics.
The project is funded through the Queensland government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund.
“I know many Cairns residents were disappointed with the REDcycle scheme stopped operating and have since looked for ways to recycle their soft plastics,” said Michael Healy, Member for Cairns.
“The Miles government has worked with key stakeholders to develop this pilot, and I am delighted that one of the trial sites will be in Cairns.
“We must do everything we can to recycle as much of our waste as possible, so it’s not dumped in landfill or finding its way into our waterways where it causes environmental harm.”
“Sunshine Coast residents are passionate about protecting the environment and they want to do more to reduce, reuse and recycle waste,” added Jason Hunt, Member for Caloundra.
“You only have to look at the success of the Miles government’s Containers for Change program to know Queenslanders respond positively to well-implemented recycling scheme.
“I am confident that Sunshine Coast residents will get behind this soft plastics recycling trial when it gets going in the region.”
The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has welcomed the Queensland government’s new soft plastics recycling initiative, saying it builds on years of industry collaboration to create a circular economy for soft plastics.
With the federal government exploring options to reform Australia’s packaging regulations, the AFGC sees this as an opportunity to achieve packaging consistency across the country and supply chains, saying a unified approach would streamline processes, reduce confusion, and drive progress toward a circular economy.
The AFGC urges other states and territories to support this national approach to soft plastics recycling. A recent survey from the AFGC’s Sustainability Summit highlighted that inconsistent packaging regulations are a major barrier to advancing Australia’s circular economy.
“We are pleased to see the Queensland government take action on soft plastics recycling,” said Tanya Barden, CEO of the AFGC. “This funding, combined with Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia’s work, is a vital step toward long-term solutions.”
Local residents in each hub community will see promotion of the collection options available to them locally. Information will also be provided on the AFGC website, as well as via participating councils.
