Soft Plastic Recycling Options - Updated April 2026
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According to Clean Up Australia's latest report, soft plastics like bags, wrappers, and cling film are the most commonly found litter in Australia. Their presence has increased due to rising use and limited recycling options.
Australia is now aiming to rebuild its soft plastic recycling system after the REDcycle program collapsed in 2022. While most soft plastics currently go to landfills, new pilot programs and trials are testing better collection and processing methods.
Progress is being made, but a nationwide solution is still in development.
Check below to see if your council is participating in any of the current trials
Key:
- ♻️ RecycleSmart = doorstep collection (Paid or Subsidised depending on council)
- 🟠 Curby = kerbside / bag-based program or trial
- 🛒 Supermarket drop-off = store-based national SPSA trial network
- 🧪 SPSA trial = national soft plastics recovery system (supermarket-led + pilot councils)
- 🏢 Council drop-off = local waste/recycling centre acceptance (limited LGAs)
You may need to follow up and check your Council website on how to recycle soft plastics
🟦 New South Wales
| LGA | Options | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ballina Shire | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Bayside | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Blacktown | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Blue Mountains | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Burwood | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) | Drop-off |
| Byron Shire | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Camden | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) | Drop-off |
| Campbelltown | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) | Drop-off |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Central Coast | 🟠 Curby | Curbside |
| City of Canada Bay | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| City of Newcastle | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🟠 Curby | Drop-off + Curbside |
| City of Ryde | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) | Drop-off |
| City of Sydney | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Cumberland | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Fairfield | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Georges River | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Hawkesbury | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Hornsby | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Hills Shire | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Hunters Hill | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) | Drop-off |
| Inner West | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Ku-ring-gai | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) | Drop-off |
| Lane Cove | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Maitland | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) | Drop-off |
| Mosman | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🟠 Curby | Drop-off + Curbside |
| Northern Beaches | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| North Sydney | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Parramatta | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Penrith | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Randwick | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Singleton | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Strathfield | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Sutherland Shire | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Tamworth | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🟠 Curby | Drop-off + Curbside |
| Tweed Shire | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Waverley | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Willoughby | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Woollahra | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Subsidised) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Goulburn Mulwaree | 🏢 Council drop-off + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Albury | 🧪 SPSA trial + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Wodonga | 🧪 SPSA trial + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
🟩 South Australia
| LGA | Options | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket + 🧪 SPSA trial | Drop-off + Trial |
| Burnside | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Charles Sturt | 🟠 Curby + 🛒 Supermarket + 🧪 SPSA trial | Curbside + Trial |
| Holdfast Bay | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Marion | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Mitcham | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Norwood Payneham St Peters | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Port Adelaide Enfield | 🟠 Curby + 🛒 Supermarket + 🧪 SPSA trial | Curbside + Trial |
| Prospect | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Salisbury | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Unley | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| West Torrens | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Tea Tree Gully | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Walkerville | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
🟨 Victoria
| LGA | Options | Type |
|---|---|---|
| City of Melbourne | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Yarra | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Stonnington | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Port Phillip | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Banyule | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Monash | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Geelong | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid, limited) + 🛒 Supermarket + 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
| Ballarat | 🧪 SPSA trial + 🛒 Supermarket + 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
| Bendigo | ♻️ RecycleSmart (limited) + 🛒 Supermarket + 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
| Shepparton | 🛒 Supermarket (select stores) + 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
| Surf Coast | ♻️ RecycleSmart (limited) + 🛒 Supermarket + 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
🟧 Queensland
| LGA | Options | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane City | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Gold Coast | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Sunshine Coast | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Logan City | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Ipswich | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
| Moreton Bay | 🏢 Council drop-off + 🛒 Supermarket | Drop-off |
🟥 Western Australia
| LGA | Options | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Perth Metro LGAs | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Limited Paid coverage) + 🛒 Supermarket (select stores) | Drop-off |
| Bunbury | 🏢 Council drop-off + 🛒 Supermarket (limited) | Drop-off |
| Albany | 🏢 Council drop-off + 🛒 Supermarket (limited) | Drop-off |
| Geraldton | 🏢 Council drop-off + 🛒 Supermarket (limited) | Drop-off |
| Kalgoorlie | 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
🟪 ACT
| LGA | Options | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Canberra | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🛒 Supermarket (Woolworths SPSA trial stores) | Drop-off |
🟫 Tasmania
| LGA | Options | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) + 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
| Launceston | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Clarence | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Glenorchy | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
| Kingborough | ♻️ RecycleSmart (Paid) | Drop-off |
🟧 Northern Territory
| LGA | Options | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Darwin | 🏢 Council drop-off + 🛒 Supermarket (very limited) | Drop-off |
| Palmerston | 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
| Litchfield | 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
| Alice Springs | 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
| Katherine | 🏢 Council drop-off | Drop-off |
| Tennant Creek | 🏢 Council drop-off (limited) | Drop-off |
Australia’s soft plastic recycling system now operates through 4 overlapping layers:
- ♻️ RecycleSmart → doorstep collection (paid/subsidised)
- 🟠 Curby → limited kerbside bag-based program
- 🛒 Supermarket drop-off → national SPSA-led trial network
- 🏢 Council drop-off centres → limited local infrastructure sites
- 🧪 SPSA trial → emerging national recovery system across selected councils
.................................................................................
Thank you for stopping by.
This list was created by myself (with some help from ChatGPT). If you find any discrepancies, mistakes, or have additional information, please do reach out.
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