Published: 14 June 2024

Eurobodalla residents can start collecting their soft plastics again, ahead of a new recycling program starting later this month.

Soft plastic recycling bins have arrived at Surf Beach, Moruya and Brou waste facilities for a three-month trial, starting Monday 24 June. Residents will be able to take their soft plastics to any Council waste facility for recycling.

Council’s waste services manager Nathan Ladmore said the community can have confidence knowing their plastics will be recycled – especially after REDcycle was suspended in 2022.

“After everyone’s recycling efforts, it was a huge letdown when the news broke of REDcycle secretly stockpiling hundreds of millions of plastics in warehouses instead of recycling them,” Mr Ladmore said.

“After months of negotiations, it’s great to know that our soft plastics will now be kept out of landfill, thanks to Recycle Smart and APR Plastics.”

Mr Ladmore said Recycle Smart will collect soft plastics from Council’s waste facilities and take them to APR Plastics for recycling in Dandenong, Victoria.

“The waste process involves breaking down the soft plastics in a recycling machine called a pyrolysis plant which converts plastics into oil for use in plastic manufacturing,” Mr Ladmore said.

“Another bonus is that the generated gas is distributed back into a hybrid generator and used to power the pyrolysis plant.

“The plant has been running since 2019 to fill the void between the collapse of REDcycle and we have confidence in them doing the job right.”

Mr Ladmore said Council’s waste facilities are currently the only free soft plastic drop-off points in the shire.

“We’re fortunate to set up this service for residents while supermarkets aren’t taking soft plastics at present.”

For more information and what is accepted, visit the soft plastic recycling web page.

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