Massive stockpiles of soft plastics remain after the collapse of supermarket-based recycling scheme
Since the collapse of REDcycle soft plastics scheme, Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have been trying to mop up the mess.
Huge stockpiles of soft plastics remain in storage almost 20 months since the collapse of the REDcycle program in 2022. The supermarkets which are facilitating the cleanup say their ability to recycle it is limited because there simply aren't enough facilities that can process the waste.
However, large amounts of soft plastics have continued to be sold in Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. Environment group the Boomerang Alliance who characterise the packaging as “wasteful and environmentally damaging” has called for better labelling on products to show it is hard to recycle.
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Considering what to do about the ongoing problem, federal competition watchdog the ACCC has decided to allow Coles, Woolworths and Aldi to continue to collaborate on a solution called the Soft Plastics Taskforce.
“While it is disappointing that the majority of the soft plastic stockpiles remain in storage, we appreciate that recycling processors came online in 2024 and only now is there capacity to process the stockpiles,” its Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.
Supermarkets respond to plastic stockpile problem
Since the collapse of REDcycle, some progress has been made in regard to recycling of soft plastics.
Woolworths and Coles are understood to have identified 44 of REDcycle's storage sites. This material was then relocated and consolidated to eight, where its believed to be managed in safet conditions that meet Environment Protection Authority expectations.
More recycling capacity is scheduled to be phased in soon, but there simply aren't enough facilities that can process it at the moment. It's believed around 20 per cent of packaging material is recycled.
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In response to questions from Yahoo to Coles, Woolworths and Aldi, a statement was delivered from the supermarket members of the Soft Plastics Taskforce of which they all belong.
“Unfortunately, the biggest challenge still remains — there are simply not enough soft plastic recyclers up and running in Australia yet to allow us to clear the stockpile,” a spokesperson said on behalf of the supermarket members of the Soft Plastics Taskforce said.
“To keep the remaining stockpile out of landfill, we are committed to storing it safely until the recycling facilities currently in development open their doors and greater capacity comes online.”
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