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Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme Proposed in Australia: Challenges and Alternatives

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Australians have woken up to a massive problem: three Sydney Harbour Bridges' worth of soft plastic packaging waste, with only 6% collected for recycling. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's proposed voluntary scheme might be a step in the right direction, but it's crucial to consider the complexities of soft plastic recycling and the impact of individual behavior on reducing plastic waste.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed scheme aims to collect and recycle 540,000 tonnes of soft plastic packaging in Australia between 2022 and 2023, equivalent to three Sydney Harbour Bridges.
  • Only 6% of soft plastic packaging waste was collected for recycling after the collapse of REDcycle's recycling program.
  • The proposed scheme, involving major supermarkets and manufacturers, would be funded through a levy on the companies involved, starting at A$160 per tonne of soft plastic.
  • Soft plastics are difficult to recycle due to their multiple layered and flexible materials, contamination with food, and "soft" nature that jams conventional sorting and processing machinery.
  • Manufacturers and supermarkets may pass on the cost of the levy to consumers.
  • Buying loose produce and unpackaged food could save money, with loose produce being cheaper 50% of the time, according to a Choice comparison.
  • Zero-waste shops that sell everything loose, from fresh food to dry goods and liquids, can be a sustainable solution to the packaging waste crisis.

Statistics:

  • 540,000 tonnes of soft plastic packaging waste in Australia between 2022 and 2023, equivalent to three Sydney Harbour Bridges.
  • 6% of soft plastic packaging waste collected for recycling after the collapse of REDcycle's recycling program.
  • A$160 per tonne of soft plastic levy proposed for the new scheme.
  • 50% of the time, loose produce is cheaper, according to a Choice comparison.
  • Annual growth rate of the scheme's budget expected to result in increasing levy levels over time.

Sources:

  • The Conversation (Au and NZ)
  • Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
  • Victorian Environment Protection Authority
  • Choice
  • Brand Tasmania
  • Australian Government
  • Soft plastics recycling looks set to return to supermarkets (The Conversation, 2025)

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