In a move that shows how local councils can step up to help address the national soft plastics recycling challenge, Randwick City Council is partnering with local recycler Plasmar, giving residents a disposal solution for their soft plastics waste.
Under the new partnership, Randwick City residents can drop off their soft plastics at the Randwick Recycling Centre in Matraville effective immediately.
The plastic is collected by Plasmar, which then takes the waste to its recycling facility where it is pelletised and recycled into practical products such as wheel stops, posts and bollards.
To create pull-through demand for the recycled product, Randwick Council has also agreed to buy back these products as a trial for local use, meaning plastics recycled locally will be given a new lease on life in the place they were originally collected.
“This is a great example of local government taking the lead and providing a local solution to a national problem,” said Dylan Parker, mayor of Randwick.
“When REDcycle stopped collecting soft plastics across the country last year, it created a huge problem, and has resulted in increased waste in people’s red bins, and more material going to landfill.
“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to find a solution and to help our residents do the right thing by the environment.
“Hopefully a program like this might be able to be expanded for use in other council areas and across the state as our country tackles the challenging issue of soft plastic recycling.”
The Randwick Recycling Centre is located at 72 Perry Street in Matraville, and is open Monday to Friday from 6am – 2:45pm. It is also open on the first Saturday of every month from 7:30am – 2pm.
