As National Recycling Week 2025 begins, new research commissioned by Planet Ark has revealed overwhelming public support for a nationwide soft plastics recycling program — signalling that Australians are ready for stronger, coordinated action to tackle plastic waste.
The findings, compiled by research consultancy Pollinate, show that 79% of Australians believe a soft plastics recycling scheme is important, and 69% want local councils to collect soft plastics through kerbside bins. Another 76% believe drop-off points should be available in everyday locations such as supermarkets — highlighting that convenience and accessibility are key to restoring trust in recycling systems following the 2022 collapse of the REDcycle program.
“Australians clearly want to do the right thing — they just need clear, consistent systems that make recycling easy and effective,” said Planet Ark CEO Adam Culley.
“The message from the public is that they expect industry, retailers and government to work together to close the loop on soft plastics.”
A new path forward: Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia
To meet this demand, a new organisation — Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA) — has been formed to manage the 300,000 tonnes of soft plastic currently being sent to landfill each year. The SPSA builds on the earlier Soft Plastics Taskforce, launched by Coles, Woolworths and Aldi to address REDcycle’s legacy waste.
Founding members include Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, Nestlé, Mars, and McCormick Foods, among others. Planet Ark is working closely with SPSA to design a nationally coordinated and credible soft plastics recycling scheme that operates across the full supply chain — from packaging producers to consumers.
“With collaboration and investment, we can rebuild public confidence and deliver the circular solutions people are calling for,” Mr Culley said.
The report also highlights changing public attitudes toward recycling and waste management. Australians over 35 displayed stronger knowledge of what can and cannot be recycled compared to younger respondents. However, younger Australians showed greater willingness to adopt new recycling habits — suggesting an opportunity for targeted education campaigns.
Encouragingly, Planet Ark’s data indicates a drop in contamination rates, showing that Australians are becoming more careful about what they put in recycling bins.
Running from 10–16 November, this year’s National Recycling Week invites Australians to “Join the Cycle” by taking small but meaningful steps to reduce waste, reuse materials and recycle correctly.
For those unsure of what can be recycled in their local area, Planet Ark’s “Recycling Near You” platform offers detailed council-specific recycling guides, repair and reuse resources, and waste reduction tips.
The 2025 campaign is supported by Coles (Major Sponsor), Coca-Cola Australia and Tetra Pak (Associate Sponsors), with MobileMuster, Australian Paper Recovery, Stone & Wood, and Cartridges 4 Planet Ark as Supporting Sponsors, and Seven West Media as Media Partner.
Founded in 1996, National Recycling Week has become one of Australia’s longest-running sustainability initiatives, helping millions of households and businesses make environmentally conscious choices.
This year, the message is clear: Australians want soft plastics recycling brought back — smarter, fairer, and stronger than before.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
