Plastic, plastic, plastic… It seems like we can’t escape it, no matter where we are!
From grocery bags to bottles to toys, plastic has become an integral part of our daily lives. But while it offers convenience and durability, it also poses a significant threat to our planet. While the Australian government and a number of corporations have created initiatives to tackle the plastic problem, there’s been mixed success.
However, soft plastics provide even more of a challenge than other types of plastic. They’re incredibly difficult to recycle, and form a huge portion of the plastic pollution we see in waterways, in parks, and on our streets. At Sydney City Rubbish, we’ve started an initiative to collect and recycle this type of plastic. But first of all, what is soft plastic?
What is a soft plastic?
Simply put, soft plastic is a type of plastic that is lightweight, bendable, and flexible. Unlike harder plastics, soft plastics can be scrunched into a ball or easily twisted in your hands. Some items, like certain single-use plastic water bottles, may also be made from plastics that are considered ‘soft’.
You’ve probably interacted with soft plastics today without even realising it. The cling wraps around your sandwich? Soft plastic. That bubble wrap in your last delivery? Yep, soft plastic again. Grocery bags, chip packets, and bread bags are more examples of soft plastic that surround us every day.
What is soft plastic made of, and why is it problematic?
To understand why soft plastics are tricky to recycle, it helps to know what they’re made of. Soft plastics are usually made up of multiple layers of different materials, like Polypropylene (PP) and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), designed to give them specific qualities, such as their light weight and flexibility.
The first problem with recycling soft plastics comes from the materials that they are made from. Since soft plastics often combine layers of different plastics and even aluminium, separating these materials is a complex process, making recycling them much harder compared to single-material items.
Physical form is another big challenge. Because they’re soft and flexible, they tend to get caught in the machinery at traditional recycling facilities, which are mostly built to handle rigid materials like plastic bottles or cans. This is also the main reason why they so easily become waste, and easily tear or break up into smaller pieces of microplastics.
What is classed as soft plastic?
A lot of everyday items are considered soft plastics. If it bends easily and doesn’t snap like a hard plastic bottle, it’s most likely soft plastic. Here’s a brief list:
- Plastic bags (shopping bags, produce bags, and bread bags)
- Food wrappers (such as chip bags, chocolate wrappers, and candy wrappers)
- Cling wrap (plastic wrap for food preservation)
- Bubble wrap
- Cereal box liners
- Frozen food packaging
- Pasta and rice bags
- Confectionery bags
- Recyclable mailing satchels
- Packaging from paper towels and toilet paper
- Biscuit and snack wrappers
- Stretchy product packaging (e.g., from multipack bottled water or drinks)
- Soft plastic film around products (e.g., around multipacks of canned or bottled goods)
- Detergent refill pouches
- Plastic envelopes for documents, magazines, newspapers
- And MUCH more.
If your business produces items like these, it’s important to make an effort to recycle them.
Can I recycle soft plastic?
Even though soft plastics present a big challenge, they can still be recycled—it just requires a different approach than other materials. Special machinery is needed to process them, but the steps we take are pretty straightforward, with a small adjustment at the start.
First, give your used soft plastics a good rinse to remove any food residue or contaminants. Then, drop them off at designated collection points for soft plastic recycling, often found in supermarkets like Woolworths, Aldi, and Coles. If none are available nearby, check for local recycling programs that accept soft plastics. It might take a little extra effort, but it’s well worth it!
At Sydney City Rubbish, our soft plastics recycling program is a fantastic option for businesses or facilities that produce large amounts of this type of waste. We provide bins, you fill them up, and then we collect them and take them to a certified recycling facility! To find out more about our soft plastic recycling program, click here.
What is soft plastic recycled into?
Once your soft plastics have been collected they are sent off for processing. By the end of the recycling process, they can be turned into all sorts of products like packaging materials, outdoor furniture, construction items, fence posts, park benches, and more. Repurposing soft plastics not only reduces landfill waste but also conserves resources and promotes a more sustainable future.
Soft plastics recycling with Sydney City Rubbish
Are you looking for recycling solutions for your soft plastic waste? We’re dedicated to providing sustainable waste management solutions for businesses and residential complexes across the Sydney CBD and surrounding areas. If you’d like to organise a bin and regular collection, speak to our friendly team today.
Contact us for soft plastic solutions!
