Further to the November 2022 interim authorisation allowing collaboration on short-term solutions for the soft plastics stockpile, the ACCC has proposed to give the major supermarkets a further 12 months to manage the stockpile and resume in-store collections. A public consultation process will begin soon, the commission said.
The REDcycle saga began in November last year when the REDcycle collection scheme was suspended. ALDI, Coles and Woolworths formed a Soft Plastics Taskforce with a mandate to develop an interim solution to restore community access to soft plastic recycling (the ACCC interim authorisation). The taskforce is chaired by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water.
In February, REDcycle was declared insolvent, and a liquidator was appointed. Soon after, the taskforce released its 12-month Roadmap to Restart the resumption of in-store collection.
ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh said REDcycle’s liquidation provoked a lot of community concern, and the proposed authorisation would give the supermarkets time to develop and implement a solution for the current stockpile and future soft plastics recycling.
“We believe the authorisation will lead to public benefits such as the developing of interim solutions to be jointly funded by the supermarkets, the maximising the opportunities to divert soft plastics from landfill and ensuring clear and consistent messaging to consumers on the resumption of in-store collections,” Keogh said.
The November interim authorisation remains in place until it is revoked, or the application is withdrawn.
“Given our proposed authorisation is for 12 months, the supermarkets would need to apply for authorisation for any longer-term solutions.
“We are proposing to grant authorisation with conditions to ensure there is continued transparency on the progress of the roadmap and that the public are kept up to date,” Keogh said.
More information is available on the ACCC’s website.
