Omar Khalid
Soft plastics are a major contributor to pollution and waste, with 70 billion pieces used in Australia alone each year. They are lightweight and easily blown from landfills, causing widespread environmental damage. While soft plastics are technically recyclable, they cannot be recycled in household bins. They require specialist recycling, which is available in some countries through supermarkets or other facilities. However, the recent suspension of Australia's largest plastic bag recycling program, REDcycle, has highlighted deeper issues within the soft plastics recycling industry. With limited alternatives available, consumers are encouraged to reuse soft plastics where possible and dispose of them responsibly to reduce environmental impact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soft plastics | Plastic bags, chip/cereal/chocolate wrappers, biscuit packets, bubble wrap, Ziploc bags, garbage bags, polystyrene, blister packs for medication, plastic wrap or film covering food items, etc. |
| Soft plastics recycling | Considered specialist recycling in most countries; available through supermarkets or other facilities; can be picked up directly from homes; should not be placed in curbside recycling bins; can be recycled into tiny plastic pellets, which can be used for synthetic lumber for decking or park benches, or recycled into another film, pouch, or bag form |
| Soft plastics recycling programs | REDcycle (Australia), Repeat the Cycle (UK), RecycleSmart, Curby (Australia) |
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What You'll Learn
Soft plastics recycling services
Soft plastics are a major contributor to pollution and can cause significant environmental damage if sent to landfill. They are lightweight and can easily blow out of landfills, travelling long distances and causing a great deal of pollution. They can also break up into smaller pieces, which can get into water systems and be ingested by animals. Therefore, it is important to recycle soft plastics.
Soft plastics recycling is considered specialist recycling in most countries and is primarily available through supermarkets or other facilities. In the UK, for example, soft plastics can be recycled at more than 4000 supermarkets. In Australia, REDcycle, the country's largest plastic bag recycling program, has paused its collection at Woolworths and Coles supermarkets. However, some local councils, such as Randwick City Council, offer soft plastic recycling facilities.
There are also companies that offer soft plastics recycling services, such as RecycleSmart, which provides on-demand pickup or a monthly subscription plan for soft plastics and other hard-to-recycle items. The soft plastics are then baled and transported to a facility in Victoria, where they are shredded, fed into a pyrolysis machine, and converted into feedstock oil, which is sent to a refinery for further processing.
To recycle soft plastics, separate them from other recyclables and ensure they are clean and food-free. Many soft plastics can be recycled at specialist facilities, including plastic bags, bread bags, chocolate wrappers, biscuit packets, bubble wrap, Ziploc bags, chip packets, and salad mix packets. It is important to note that soft plastics should not be placed in curbside recycling bins, as they can contaminate recycling facilities and create safety risks.
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Soft plastics recycling at supermarkets
Soft plastics are lightweight plastics that can easily be scrunched into a ball. They include supermarket plastic bags, bread bags, chocolate wrappers, biscuit packets, bubble wrap, Ziploc bags, and toilet paper and tissue wrapping.
Soft plastic recycling is considered specialist recycling in most countries and is primarily available through supermarkets or other facilities. In the UK, for example, soft plastics can be recycled at more than 4000 supermarkets. Tesco, Sainsbury's, and M&S are some of the supermarkets that have launched in-store soft plastic collection initiatives. In Australia, Redcycle drop-off points are mostly located at Coles and Woolworths supermarkets.
However, it is important to note that soft plastics should not be placed in curbside recycling bins. They can contaminate recycling facilities by getting caught in the mechanical equipment, leading to costly plant shutdowns and safety risks for workers. Instead, they should be taken to specialist recycling facilities, such as those offered by some supermarkets.
Before taking soft plastics to a supermarket recycling point, it is important to ensure that they are clean and free of food. This will ensure they are in the best possible condition for recycling.
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Soft plastics recycling at home
Soft plastics recycling is considered specialist recycling in most countries. It is important to note that soft plastics should not be put in your household recycling bin. When soft plastics are incorrectly put in household recycling bins, they can contaminate the recycling and cause problems at recycling facilities if they become entangled in the machinery.
Soft plastics include biscuit wrappers, plastic bags, garbage bags, chip packets, and salad mix packets – basically, anything that acts as a bag around food is a soft plastic. Other examples include bread bags, cereal box liners, chocolate wrappers, and biscuit packets. Soft plastics also include wrapping from other things such as toilet paper and tissues, bubble wrap, or Ziploc bags.
If you want to recycle your soft plastics at home, you can separate them from other waste and place them in a dedicated bin. You can then take your soft plastics to major supermarkets to be recycled. Some councils are also offering soft plastics recycling services, so check directly with your council.
There are also services that offer on-demand pickup or a monthly subscription plan for soft plastics recycling. You can pack your soft plastics in their pink bags or any regular shopping bag, and a local driver will collect your items and drop them off at a consolidation point.
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Soft plastics as contaminants
Soft plastics, such as plastic bags, food packaging, and shrink wrap, are a significant area of concern when it comes to recycling. They are often not accepted by regular recycling programs, leading to confusion about how to dispose of them properly. Soft plastics have distinct properties that set them apart from hard plastics, requiring different recycling processes. They are flexible and can be easily scrunched by hand, but they pose a challenge as they can get tangled in recycling machinery, causing operational issues and even safety risks in recycling facilities.
When placed in curbside bins with other recyclables, soft plastics can contaminate the entire batch, hindering the recycling process. This is because soft plastics can get caught in the mechanical equipment at recycling plants, leading to costly shutdowns and creating safety hazards for workers who have to remove them. Therefore, it is crucial to keep soft plastics out of curbside recycling bins and instead find alternative ways to dispose of them responsibly.
One way to recycle soft plastics is through specialist recycling services, which may be available through supermarkets or other dedicated facilities. For example, Redcycle drop-off points are commonly located at Coles and Woolworths supermarkets, providing a convenient option for consumers. Some local councils also offer soft plastic recycling facilities, so it is worth contacting your local council to explore these options.
Additionally, companies like Sustainable Supply and TerraCycle are using recycled soft plastics to create sustainable office supplies, contributing to a circular economy. By recycling soft plastics, we can reduce our reliance on virgin plastic production, minimize plastic waste, and promote sustainability. However, it is important to note that soft plastics with significant food waste can be challenging to recycle due to the increased difficulty in cleaning them.
Overall, soft plastics as contaminants in the recycling process underlines the importance of proper waste segregation and specialized recycling methods to ensure a more sustainable future.
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Soft plastics recycling problems
Soft plastics recycling is considered specialist recycling in most countries. It is often available through supermarkets or other facilities. However, there are several issues with soft plastics recycling. Firstly, there is a lack of transparency around what happens to the recycled soft plastics. While some of it may be turned into items like drainpipes or shelving, this is downcycling rather than recycling. Additionally, take-back schemes offered by supermarkets have been criticized as greenwashing tactics, as they create a false sense of security among the public. In reality, supermarkets may not have the capacity to process all the soft plastics they collect, and the plastic may end up being incinerated or sent to other countries.
Another issue with soft plastics recycling is that they cannot be placed in household recycling bins. Soft plastics, such as plastic bags, chip packets, and biscuit wrappers, are often mistakenly placed in household recycling bins. However, soft plastics can easily get caught in the mechanical equipment at recycling plants, leading to costly plant shutdowns and safety risks for workers. Therefore, it is important to separate soft plastics from other recyclables and bring them to specialized recycling facilities.
The availability of soft plastics recycling can vary by location. Some countries or cities may have more widespread access to soft plastics recycling than others. For example, in the UK, soft plastic take-back schemes are gaining popularity in supermarkets, allowing customers to return items like bread bags and crisp packets for recycling. In Australia, soft plastics recycling is available through services like RecycleSmart, which offers on-demand pickup or monthly subscription plans for soft plastics and other hard-to-recycle items.
Despite the efforts to recycle soft plastics, there are still challenges in ensuring the process is environmentally beneficial. Soft plastics are lightweight and can escape from landfills, contributing to pollution and ending up in water systems and oceans. Additionally, the quality of recycled soft plastics may be lower than that of hard plastics or fresh virgin plastic, making it less economically viable. To address these issues, it is crucial to focus on reducing the use of soft plastics and eliminating unnecessary plastic packaging.
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Frequently asked questions
Soft plastics are plastics that can be scrunched into a ball and include plastic bags, chip/crisp packets, biscuit/chocolate wrappers, bread bags, garbage bags, and bubble wrap.
Soft plastics are lightweight and can easily blow out of landfills, causing pollution in the environment. Recycling soft plastics help to reduce this pollution and our weekly landfill contribution.
Soft plastics should not be placed in your curbside recycling bin as they can contaminate recycling facilities. Instead, they can be recycled at specialist recycling facilities or your local supermarket.
After collection, soft plastics are baled and transported to a facility where they are shredded and processed. They can then be converted into feedstock oil or recycled into tiny plastic pellets, which can be used to create synthetic lumber for decking or park benches.
Some soft plastics can be reused at home as bin liners, dog waste bags, or for storage. Biodegradable plastic is also an option for some products.
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