We have partnered with CAWRA (the Central Adelaide Waste and Recycling Authority) and the Australian Food & Grocery Council to trial kerbside soft plastics collection.
The 12-month trial will involve 2,000 residents in Beverley and Woodville South collecting soft plastics in coloured (orange) bag in their kerbside yellow lid recycling bin. These bags will then be sorted at our material recovery facility (CAWRA) before being bailed and sent interstate for recycling. A Victorian company will then recycle the soft plastic through an advanced recycling process that converts that material into an oil than can be used to make new plastics.
This is one of a number of trials testing alternative collection models to keep soft plastics out of landfill and provide ways to recycle them. The Cities of Adelaide and Port Adelaide Enfield are also undertaking trials, testing a slightly different approach to help us understand the level of public support and what take-up we might see here in South Australia.
This trial will provide valuable information to see whether a sustainable model for large-scale “bag-in-bin” kerbside collection and sorting of soft plastic packaging can be found and to enable the creation of a sustainable and efficient advanced recycling industry for soft plastics across Australia.
This trial has been funded by the City of Charles Sturt, the Australian food and grocery manufacturing industry, Green Industries SA and the Australian Government.
We are committed to help our community to reduce waste and recycle more. This trial is one of several projects we’re working on to support our community to sort waste and recycling more effectively.
If you're involved in the trial, you can find out more information on what can be recycled and read our Frequently Asked Questions here.