Queensland backs soft plastics recycling trial

The Queensland government is investing $1 million with Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia to support the roll-out of a soft plastics recycling pilot in Queensland.

Communities will be able to recycle soft plastics at four new trial hubs that will trial a variety of collection options to see what works best for urban, regional and remote residents.

Soft Plastic Stewardship Australia Interim Co-CEO Barry Cosier: “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.

“These 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.

“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.”

Under the pilot, trial hubs will be established in locations across Queensland to test different ways to allow people to return soft plastic packaging.

Queenslanders have been hanging-on to their soft plastics since the REDcycle programme ceased operating.

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 hubs will trial options including:

• 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.

Assessment of each collection channel will help inform future decisions on which model or mix of collections provide the best approach for various communities.

The pilots will also help identify potential options for local processing of soft plastics and explore potential end markets for recycled product.

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.

Picture: Barry Cosier