By Helen Lewis of Circular Plastics Illawarra
Soft plastics collection pilot
Following their recent soft plastics recycling pilot, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (ISJO) is currently working with its member councils (Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven) to evaluate the outcomes of the pilot and determine next steps. The councils have agreed to future drop-off events with dates to be announced shortly.
Discussions are also underway to confirm end markets for soft plastics and products that the councils could buy back to support circularity.
Looking for community feedback
Circular Plastics Illawarra is collecting community feedback on the pilot. Tell us what you think by filling out a five-minute survey here (closes 31 May). We are keen to collect more information on how much material was dropped off, how long it was stockpiled for, and preferred collection systems. We also want to hear from people who didn’t hear about the pilot or didn’t participate.
Processing capacity is increasing
The good news is that the infrastructure to recycle household soft plastics after collection is slowly expanding. End markets currently include:
- IQ Renew (Taree), the first purpose-built soft plastics recycling facility in Australia. The SPEC processing plant – short for Soft Plastic Engineered Commodity – has processed much of the REDcycle stockpile and is accepting material from councils and the return-to-retail pilot. Their material is being recycled into a range of products such as fence posts, wheel stops and FOGO caddies.
- APR Plastics (Melbourne) has a small chemical recycling facility processing soft plastics into oil, for remanufacturing back into food-grade plastics. Their first commercial-scale plant is expected to be operational from September this year.
- Close the Loop (Melbourne), who supported the ISJO pilot and processed the collected material into an asphalt additive called TonerPlas.
Invitation to help design a Circular Precinct in the Illawarra
Local businesses, councils and other organisations are invited to a workshop on 10 June to help design a ‘circular precinct’ in the Illawarra. The aim is to develop a place-based circular economy that would enable new circular business models to share, repair, remanufacture and process secondary resources, while innovating and collaborating. This stimulates economic growth, creating jobs and new sustainable products and services, while supporting sustainable communities.
The event is being run by Circular Australia with support from ISJO, UOW, the NSW government’s Sustainability Advantage program, and Circular Plastics Illawarra. There is a fee to attend. Register here.
Greenfest sustainability expo
Circular Plastics Illawarra had a stand at the Greenfest sustainability expo on 13 April organised by Corrimal Rotary. We received a lot of questions about plastics recycling, including how to recycle soft plastics and what they are recycled into. It was a great day and highlighted the strong level of community support for more soft plastics recycling options in the Illawarra.
About the writer
Dr Helen Lewis works as an environmental consultant and volunteers as convenor of Circular Plastics Illawarra, a network of passionate locals working to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics. She loves bushwalking, swimming and walking the neighbourhood with her Italian Greyhound looking for treats (the dog that is).
