Omar Khalid
Soft plastics are a huge contributor to plastic waste, with an estimated 5 trillion plastic bags used globally each year. While soft plastics are technically recyclable, they can't be put in household recycling bins as they can cause problems at recycling plants by jamming machinery or contaminating other materials. Many countries and companies have set up specialized soft plastics recycling services, such as REDcycle in Australia, which has collected over 5.4 billion pieces of soft plastic since 2011. However, in November 2022, REDcycle closed its soft plastics recycling scheme due to unforeseen challenges. This closure highlights the ongoing challenges and uncertainties surrounding soft plastics recycling, with many regions lacking accessible and consistent solutions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty in recycling | Soft plastics are one of the most difficult materials to recycle due to their tendency to get tangled in machinery and contaminate other recyclables. |
| Environmental impact | Recycling soft plastics can help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and oceans, contributing to widespread pollution and endangering wildlife. |
| Consumer willingness | Consumers have demonstrated a willingness to recycle soft plastics, as seen through the popularity of programs like REDcycle. |
| Current recycling programs | REDcycle, Curby, and council-run programs are some examples of initiatives that have been implemented to recycle soft plastics. However, some of these programs have faced challenges and suspensions. |
| Alternative solutions | Advanced recycling processes can break down soft plastics into chemical building blocks to create new plastic products of the same quality. |
| Consumer action | Consumers should check with their local council or region-specific guidelines to properly recycle soft plastics. |
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What You'll Learn
Soft plastics should not be put in household recycling bins
However, this does not mean that soft plastics cannot be recycled at all. Many grocery stores and specialized recycling companies accept soft plastics for recycling. For example, REDcycle in Australia provides soft plastic bins and drop-off points for consumers to recycle soft plastics. Some local councils also offer soft plastic recycling facilities.
It is important to explore alternatives to landfill for soft plastics as they can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, contributing to polluted oceans, overextended landfills, and ecological damage. Recycling soft plastics can help conserve natural resources and energy, as plastic is made from oil.
To determine the proper way to dispose of soft plastics, individuals should refer to the guidelines provided by their local recycling center or waste management provider. These guidelines can vary by location and collector, so it is essential to reference the specific instructions for one's area.
Overall, while soft plastics should not be placed in household recycling bins, there are alternative options for responsible disposal and recycling.
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REDcycle and other soft plastic recycling schemes
Soft plastics are one of the most difficult materials to recycle. They are often contaminated with food and made from different types of plastics, making them hard to process. Soft plastics include bread bags, pasta packets, biscuit wrappers, plastic bags, and plastic wraps. They can be recycled, but the system is complex and requires specialised recycling services.
REDcycle was a popular recycling program in Australia that collected soft plastics from supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths. The collected plastics were then used by manufacturing companies to create new products like road surfaces, shopping trolleys, and street furniture. However, due to several challenges, REDcycle had to suspend its operations in November 2022. The suspension left many Australians looking for alternative recycling options.
There are some alternative schemes and initiatives that have emerged to fill the gap left by REDcycle. For example, Cleanaway is considering a $500 million co-investment to support soft plastics recycling. Additionally, some local councils in Australia are offering soft plastics recycling services, such as the National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS) and Curby, which operates in select areas. It is important to check with local councils to find out about specific soft plastics recycling programs.
In addition to these schemes, there are other ways to recycle soft plastics responsibly. Some retail stores and drop-off centres accept plastic film packaging for recycling. It is important to ensure that the plastic is clean, dry, and free of any residue before placing it in the recycling bin.
Furthermore, advanced recycling technologies can process soft plastics into other plastic products by breaking down the plastic waste into its chemical building blocks. These technologies can address the issue of plastic waste and create high-quality recycled plastics that can be traded in conventional commodity markets.
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The recycling process for soft plastics
Soft plastics are one of the most difficult materials to recycle. They are often contaminated with food and made from different types of plastics that are not easily processed.
The main processing pathway of soft plastics in Australia has been the REDcycle program. Many Australians collect their soft plastics and drop them off at their local Woolworths and Coles supermarkets. REDcycle then collects the soft plastics from these stores and sorts them. They are then used by manufacturing companies to be recycled into things like road surfaces, plastic fences, decking, bollards, and park benches.
Advanced recycling is an emerging technology that can also accept soft plastics. This process breaks down plastic waste into its chemical building blocks through a range of thermal or biological processes. The building blocks can then be turned back into plastics of the same quality as the original product.
Another recycling process for soft plastics involves the following steps:
- Collection: Soft plastics are collected from consumers and stored in a designated bin.
- Cleaning: The plastics are cleaned to remove any dirt or contaminants.
- Shredding: The plastics are shredded to ensure they can be consistently fed into the recycling process.
- Melting: The shredded plastics are melted down into pellets.
- Manufacturing: The pellets are then used to make new products, such as food-grade plastic packaging.
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The impact of soft plastics on the environment
Soft plastics, like other plastics, have a significant impact on the environment. Plastic is a relatively new invention, with the first examples dating back to the late 1800s, but it has quickly become one of the most widely used materials in the world due to its versatility and low production cost. The problem with plastic is that it does not decompose; instead, it breaks up into smaller pieces called microplastics, which are now found everywhere on Earth. These microplastics pose a serious threat to wildlife, as they can cause punctured organs or intestinal blockages if ingested.
The durability of soft plastics means that discarded items can remain in the environment for generations, continuing to break down into microplastics and release toxic chemicals. These chemicals can leach into the soil and water, further contaminating ecosystems and the food chain. While there are efforts to recycle soft plastics, the recycling rate for plastics globally is estimated to be low, around 9% according to some sources. This means that a significant amount of soft plastics are not being recycled and are instead incinerated, sent to landfills, or shipped abroad, often to developing countries that may not have the capacity to process the waste.
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The future of soft plastics recycling
Soft plastics are an integral part of our daily lives, from food packaging to shopping bags. However, the rise in plastic consumption has had a significant environmental impact, with plastic pollution now a global concern. Soft plastics are particularly problematic as they are hard to recycle and often end up in landfills or the environment.
Despite these challenges, the future of soft plastics recycling shows promise. Recycling soft plastics is becoming increasingly popular as individuals become more conscious of their environmental impact. Large retailers in New York are now required to recycle all types of film plastic, and similar initiatives are being implemented globally. For instance, Tesco, in collaboration with Berry Global, has expanded its soft plastics collection to over 900 stores, with similar initiatives by Sainsbury's and other supermarkets.
Furthermore, soft plastics can be recycled through physical recycling, where they are transformed into outdoor furniture, road construction materials, and storage containers. Chemical recycling is another option, where soft plastics are converted back into oil for new plastic production. Additionally, Polyrok, a plastic aggregate for concrete, is an innovative recycling method for soft plastics, with a facility in Melbourne capable of converting 105,000 tonnes of soft plastics into this material.
However, there are concerns about the fate of recycled waste. In 2018, China, the world's largest market for recycled waste, restricted the import of certain types of waste due to contamination concerns. This shift highlighted the importance of developing domestic recycling capabilities and addressing the issue of waste exports, which is a significant challenge in the UK, where half of all paper and cardboard and two-thirds of plastics are sent abroad for recycling.
In conclusion, the future of soft plastics recycling holds potential with growing awareness, innovative recycling methods, and global initiatives. However, addressing the challenges of waste exports and developing efficient domestic recycling infrastructure will be crucial in ensuring a sustainable future for soft plastics recycling.
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Frequently asked questions
Soft plastics are plastics that can be scrunched into a ball or broken by hand. They include plastic bags, cling film, pallet wrap, polystyrene, bubble wrap, and shrink wrap.
Soft plastics can be recycled, but they should not be put in household recycling bins as they can cause problems at recycling plants by jamming machinery or contaminating the recycling. Instead, they can be recycled through specialized soft plastics recycling services, such as REDcycle, which turns soft plastics into new products like shopping trolleys, street furniture, park benches, decking, and bollards. However, it is important to note that the availability of such services may vary by location, and some areas may not have access to soft plastics recycling.
Recycling soft plastics helps divert waste from landfills, reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste and pollution. It also allows for the creation of new products, reducing the need to produce new plastic, which can have a high environmental cost.
