Innovative Plastic Recycling Scheme to Focus on Soft Plastics Diversion

The project aims to collect and recycle nearly 190,000 tonnes of plastic packaging per annum by 2025.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) - the apex body representing the country’s food and grocery manufacturers announced launch of an industry-led plastic recycling initiative. The project aims to collect and recycle nearly 190,000 tonnes of plastic packaging per annum by 2025.

The trade body will develop the National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS), with the support from the Government’s National Product Stewardship Investment Fund (PSIF).

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The initiative will primarily focus on boosting the diversion of soft plastics, by building on existing soft plastics recycling initiatives, including the trial project run by Nestle. At a later stage, it will expand to include other plastics. The new scheme will be responsible for coordinating the efforts in partnership with major food and grocery bands to boost the collection and recycling, as well as reusing of plastic packaging.

Tanya Barden, CEO, AFGC noted that the scheme will help to increase the recycling rates of identified plastics and reduce the amount of virgin plastic used in packaging, thereby helping the country to move forward in meeting the ambitious National Packaging Targets.

Australia intends to recycle or compost 70% plastic packaging and incorporate 50% recycled content across all types of packaging by 2025.