The Queensland Government has committed $1 million to launch a pilot program for soft plastics recycling.
Soon, communities across the state will have the opportunity to recycle soft plastics at four new trial hubs.
These hubs will explore different collection methods to determine the most effective solutions for urban, regional, and remote residents.
“The community has made it clear how much they value the ability to recycle soft plastics and want to see it return,” said the state’s Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard.
“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…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.”
In collaboration with Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia Limited, the government aims to test innovative approaches to recycling soft plastic waste.
Since the REDcycle program ended, many Queenslanders have been holding onto their soft plastics, expressing the need for an alternative.
The pilot will kick off in Brisbane before the year’s end, with additional hubs in the Sunshine Coast, Goondiwindi, and Cairns launching in the coming months. Over a 12-month period, the hubs will evaluate various collection options to find the best fit for all Queensland communities.
- The state government is investing $1 million to support the roll-out of a soft plastics recycling pilot in Queensland.
- Communities across Queensland will soon be able to recycle soft plastics at four new trial hubs
- The hubs will trial a variety of collection options to see what works best for urban, regional and remote Queenslanders
The government is partnering with Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia Limited to conduct a pilot soft plastics recycling scheme in Queensland.
Under the pilot, trial hubs will be established in locations across Queensland to test different ways to allow people to return soft plastic packaging.
The hubs will trial a variety of collection options over a 12-month period to see what works best for urban, regional and remote Queenslanders.
This will include:
- kerbside yellow-lid bin collections in specific locations.
- return to store.
- council drop off locations; and
- drop off at central points, such as container refund points.
Evaluating each collection method will provide insights for future decisions on the most effective models or combinations of collection strategies for different communities.
The pilot programs will also seek to uncover local processing options for soft plastics and explore potential markets for recycled products.
This initiative aims to reduce stockpiling and the need for long-distance transport, while fostering local markets and job creation.
“It’s also vital that we have cost-effective options for processing the material that are collected and viable end-product markets,” said Linard.
“Queensland is growing rapidly, and we need to do more to keep waste out of landfill and turn it into useful new products.
“We’re committed to moving towards a circular economy, whereas much valuable material as possible is diverted from landfill through reuse, recycling and remanufacturing.”
As part of the trial, the government will collaborate with Central Queensland University to process some of the collected materials at its testing facilities. This will allow for an assessment of contamination tolerance levels for various end products.
These efforts will help clarify consumer messaging regarding the types of soft plastic packaging that can be collected and identify viable markets for recovered soft plastics.
The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) applauded the announcement from the Queensland Government.
“We are pleased to see the Queensland government take action on soft plastics recycling,” said AFGC CEO Tanya Barden.
“This funding, combined with SPSA’s work, is a vital step toward long-term solutions.”
As the Federal government considers reforms to Australia’s packaging regulations, the industry views this as a chance to create consistent packaging standards nationwide.
Stakeholders believe a unified approach would simplify processes, reduce confusion, and promote progress towards a circular economy.
Barden and the AFGC are also encouraging other states and territories to back this national strategy for soft plastics recycling. With a recent survey conducted during the AFGC’s Sustainability Summit revealing that inconsistent packaging regulations pose an obstacle to advancing Australia’s circular economy.