Soft Plastics Recycling in Australia

Soft plastics — bags, wrappers, pouches, and flexible packaging — cannot go in your kerbside recycling bin. They jam sorting machinery at Materials Recovery Facilities. But there are options to keep them out of landfill. Here's the current state of soft plastics recycling in Australia.

Soft plastics are the trickiest part of the recycling system to get right. After the collapse of REDcycle in late 2022, roughly 12,000 tonnes of stockpiled plastic was discovered in warehouses, and the national program vanished overnight. Since then the major supermarkets and government have been rebuilding collection through a body called the Soft Plastics Taskforce, but coverage is patchy and changes often. This guide explains what qualifies, where to take it right now, the mistakes that ruin a whole batch, and how the rules vary by state.

What are soft plastics?

If you can scrunch it into a ball without it tearing, it's a soft plastic. Common examples:

• Plastic shopping bags, bread bags, produce bags
• Chip packets, crisp bags, lolly wrappers
• Cereal inner bags, pasta bags
• Bubble wrap, soft packaging foam
• Cling wrap and glad wrap
• Frozen food bags, pet food bags
• Zip-lock bags, sandwich bags

The "scrunch test" is the simplest guide: soft plastics scrunch and stay scrunched, while a rigid container springs back into shape. Rigid plastics belong in your yellow-lid kerbside bin (if clean), not the soft plastics stream.

Current programs (2025–2026)

Following the collapse of REDcycle in 2022, several new programs have been established:

• Woolworths — announced in May 2026 that collection had returned to more than 700 stores across five states. This is not every store: use Woolworths' current participating-store information before travelling.
• Other supermarkets — the ACCC-authorised collaboration has included Coles and ALDI, but availability is location-specific. Do not assume a store has a collection bin; check the retailer's current locator or ask that specific store.
• TRILITY/Close the Loop — processes soft plastics collected through retail programs into road materials and composite timber products.
• Local council programs — some councils have introduced their own soft plastics drop-off at transfer stations. Check your council website.
• Curby / Australian Packaging Covenant (APCO) — some councils in NSW and SA run kerbside soft plastics collection using orange Curby bags placed in your recycling bin. Only available where the council has signed up, so check before you use it.

Note: Soft plastics programs have changed significantly since 2022. Always check the current status of your local program before collecting bags for drop-off — programs have opened, paused, and changed acceptance criteria. Better Than Bin's search will give you the most up-to-date advice for your area.

State-by-state differences

Single-use plastic bans and collection options differ across the states, which affects how much soft plastic you generate and where you can drop it off:

• South Australia — the national leader on bans, having phased out lightweight bags, straws and many single-use items early. Some SA councils trial kerbside soft plastic collection via Curby.
• New South Wales — lightweight bags and a range of single-use plastics are banned. Curby kerbside collection operates in participating councils; supermarket bins are returning at selected stores.
• Victoria — single-use plastics phased out from 2023. Collection relies mainly on supermarket bins and transfer stations as they reopen.
• Queensland, WA, ACT and Tasmania — all have banned lightweight bags and progressively expanded single-use bans. WA has some of the broadest bans, including on some produce bags. Collection is mostly via returning supermarket bins.
• Northern Territory — lightweight bags banned; fewer drop-off points overall, so check locally before collecting.

Because the supermarket bin rollout is being staged region by region, the single most reliable step is to check your specific store or council before you build up a bag of plastics to drop off.

Tips for collecting soft plastics at home

• Keep a dedicated bag under your sink or in your pantry to collect soft plastics as you generate them
• Make sure packaging is clean and dry before collecting — food residue can contaminate the whole batch
• Remove any non-plastic components: zippers, cardboard inserts, labels
• Hard plastic components (like resealable clips on bread bags) should be removed and placed in kerbside recycling if accepted in your council area

What you should NOT put in soft plastics bins

• Compostable plastics — these are not soft plastics and contaminate the stream
• Bioplastics labeled #7 or "bio-based"
• Cling wrap contaminated with food (grease, juice, etc.)
• Degradable bags marked "oxo-degradable" or "degradable"
• Any plastic that is rigid, even slightly (e.g. containers, lids)

Plastic bags specifically

There is no verified universal supermarket service for plastic shopping bags separate from other soft plastics. Only use a retailer collection point that is currently operating, and follow the accepted-item list printed on that bin or published by that program. If no verified collection is available, keep soft plastic out of the yellow-lid recycling bin and follow your council's residual-waste advice.

Common mistakes

• Putting soft plastics in the yellow kerbside bin. This is the most common error. Bags and film wrap around the spinning discs at sorting facilities, causing shutdowns, and contaminate otherwise recyclable loads.
• Dropping off dirty or greasy plastic. Food residue contaminates the whole batch. Packaging must be empty, clean and dry — give chip packets and meat trays wrap a quick wipe or rinse.
• Mixing in compostable or "degradable" bags. These break down differently and ruin the recycling process. They are not soft plastics.
• Bagging plastics inside a bin liner that isn't recyclable. Use a clear, clean plastic bag so the collection point can see what's inside.
• Assuming your supermarket still has a bin. Many stores paused collection after REDcycle and only some have reopened. Check before you make a special trip.
• Leaving hard clips, zippers or paper labels attached. These are contaminants — remove them and put recyclable rigid parts in the kerbside bin.

Cost and value

Retail in-store collection does not normally charge at the bin, but council and specialist services set their own fees and access rules. Check before travelling. The value lies in what recovered soft plastics can become: Close the Loop and similar processors turn them into products like asphalt additive for roads (a mix branded "TonerPlas"), composite outdoor furniture, bollards and fence posts. Recycling soft plastics also cuts the volume of light, wind-blown litter that otherwise clogs waterways and harms wildlife. The cheapest option of all, though, is avoidance — reusable bags and bulk buying reduce both cost and waste at the same time.

Reducing at the source

The most effective solution to soft plastics is reducing how much you bring home. Reusable bags, beeswax wraps, and buying in bulk with your own containers can significantly reduce your soft plastics waste. Australia's state governments are progressively banning single-use plastic bags and other packaging, which is reducing the volume going through the waste stream.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put soft plastics in my kerbside recycling bin?

In most areas, no. Soft plastics jam the machinery at sorting facilities and should be kept out of the yellow-lid bin. The exception is councils running the Curby program, where you collect soft plastics in a special orange bag and place it in your recycling bin. Check whether your council participates before using it.

Whatever happened to REDcycle?

REDcycle, the national supermarket collection program, was suspended in November 2022 after its processing partners stopped accepting material and large stockpiles built up. Coles and Woolworths, through the Soft Plastics Taskforce, have been progressively reintroducing in-store collection at selected stores since then.

How clean does the plastic need to be?

Empty, dry and free of food residue. A quick wipe or rinse is usually enough. Greasy or wet packaging can contaminate an entire collection batch, so anything you can't clean easily is better off in general waste.

Are compostable or "biodegradable" bags soft plastics?

No. Compostable, bio-based and oxo-degradable plastics behave differently and contaminate the soft plastics stream. Certified compostable bags should go to organics collection where accepted; "degradable" bags are best avoided altogether.

What is recycled soft plastic turned into?

Recovered soft plastics are processed into products like road-surfacing asphalt additive, composite decking, outdoor furniture, bollards and fence posts. These uses keep the material out of landfill and reduce demand for virgin plastic.

Where can I drop off plain plastic bags right now?

Do not rely on an unverified supermarket-bag claim. Check a retailer's live participating-store information or your council website, then follow that program's accepted-item list. If you cannot verify a collection point, place the item in general waste rather than kerbside recycling.