Liam McNally
A Melton councillor has welcomed the announcement of a “roadmap” for major supermarket retailers to restore soft plastic recycling by late 2023.
At the most recent council meeting, councillor Steve Abboushi moved for council to note the reduction options for residents to recycle their soft plastics since the discontinuation of REDcycle at participating supermarkets.
The REDcycle recycling scheme was paused last November, and a subsequent Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) investigation alleged stockpiles of soft plastics were being stored long-term instead of being recycled.
Soft plastics were allegedly found in warehouses across Melbourne’s west, including in Truganina, Tullamarine, Craigieburn, West Footscray, Williamstown North and Tottenham.
Cr Abboushi moved for council to write to Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, Sustainability Victoria and Recycling Victoria to seek an update on actions that the Victorian Government is taking to address options for residents to recycle soft plastics.
The EPA and recycling Victoria set up a task force that included the major retailers. On March 7 the Soft Plastics Task Force announced the roadmap to restart that outlines steps needed to launch a new supermarket soft plastic collection scheme, and aims to relaunch a pilot soft plastic recycling operation at selected stores by the end of 2023.
In a statement Woolworths said restoring public trust in soft plastic recycling is paramount but the timeline is contingent on its ability to clear the estimated 12,000 tonnes of stockpiled soft plastic in the next year, which Woolworths and Coles have taken control of from REDCycle.
Cr Abboushi said the update is great news because large corporations have the means to make a big difference in this space.
“However as a community leader and a local resident I’d like to know exactly what their plan is to process soft plastics that does not include sending it to landfill,” he said.
longer-term challenges on recycling capacity.
A government spokesperson said they welcomed the recent announcement from the major retailers that they have entered into an agreement with REDCycle to assume control of the stockpiled materials, and we await further details on their plan for short-term safe storage, as well as a long-term solution.
