Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven councils will host soft plastics recycling drop-off days from November till February. Photo: Envato Elements.
If your personal war on waste has been stymied by the lack of local recycling options for soft plastics, the cavalry has finally arrived.
From November to February locations in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and the Shoalhaven will host drop-off days for residents to submit their clean, dry soft plastics for recycling.
Since the collapse of REDcycle in November 2022 the closest options to drop-off soft plastics for recycling have been at Moss Vale and Sutherland.
While some dedicated waste warriors have made the journey to dispose of their soft plastics responsibly, others – 17 per cent of those who responded to a survey from Circular Plastics Illawarra – have been stashing them in the hopes a new recycling initiative would spring up.
In the same survey many of those who throw their plastics in the bin indicated they would still prefer to recycle it, if a local option was available.
The interim solution of drop-off days was developed through a collaboration between the Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven councils.
Helen Lewis, from Circular Plastics Illawarra, said soft plastics were pernicious, but could offer potential for local industry if collection trials were successful.
“They’re often complex materials made of different plastics, adhesives, paper, aluminium and ink,” she said.
“They’re often contaminated with food, and all this makes them complex to process.”
A couple of companies, however, have found ways to turn soft plastics into an asphalt additive, new packaging, or more solid plastic items such as bins.
The collaborating councils hope providing a temporary regional approach to soft plastics collection will support the development of an industry funded permanent option in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven.
Some examples of the packaging that will be accepted at drop-off days include clear and coloured plastic bags, biscuit and snack wrappers, chip packets and other silver-lined snack wrappers, fresh and frozen food wrappers and bags, pasta, rice, bread and cereal bags and liners, cling wrap, Bubble Wrap and ziplock or snap lock bags, document sleeves, mail satchels and carrier bags, and plastic pet food bags.
If you’ve got a collection of soft plastics at home, or if you’d like to divert some of your rubbish from landfill, the drop-off days will be held across the region as follows.
Wollongong
- 27 November, Fred Finch Park, Berkeley, 7:30 am – noon
- 28 December, Rex Jackson Oval, Helensburgh, 7:30 am – noon
- 30 December, Ziems Park, Corrimal, 7:30 am – noon
Shellharbour
- 24 November, Albion Oval carpark, Ash Avenue, Albion Park Rail, 9 am – 3 pm
- 23 February, Albion Oval carpark, Ash Avenue, Albion Park Rail, 9 am – 3 pm
Kiama
- 20 November, Minnamurra waste and recycling facility, 8 am – 4 pm
- 12 February, Minnamurra waste and recycling facility, 8 am – 4 pm
Shoalhaven
- 12 February, Ulladulla recycling and waste depot, 8 am – 4 pm
- 12 February, West Nowra recycling and waste depot, 8 am – 4 pm
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