Thursday, 7 May 2026: Soft plastics recycling is officially back in more than 700 Woolworths stores across five states, providing Australian families with a convenient way to reduce household waste.
The renewed soft plastics recycling scheme was first launched as a trial in five Victorian Woolworths stores in February 2024. Since then, hundreds more locations have rolled out their collection points, with select Woolworths stores in South Australia joining the scheme this week.
With this initiative, we have made it easier for Aussie families to recycle their soft plastics as part of their weekly shop. Around 40 million pieces of soft plastic, or 310,000 kgs, have been collected and processed as part of the renewed recycling program to date.
The plastic collected through the scheme is also being given a second life in Woolworths stores by being converted into products such as in-store wall panelling and Woolworths own-brand bread bags, which are made with 30 per cent recycled plastic.
Woolworths partners with Australian-based recycling companies saveBOARD, iQRenew, and Plascrete to deliver the renewed soft plastics recycling program.
Woolworths has played a leading role in re-establishing a more resilient soft plastics recycling industry in Australia by collaborating with other retailers and major brands including Mars, Nestlé and McCormick Foods to support the creation of Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA).
Woolworths 360 Managing Director Rob McCartney said: “Our customers have continued to advocate for soft plastic recycling and we’re thrilled to be able to give them the ability to recycle these materials again.
“We are proud to partner with innovative recyclers such as iQRenew which has opened a new facility in NSW that has the capacity to process 14,000 tonnes per year of soft plastics. While saveBOARD is transforming soft plastic waste into building materials that we are already using in 170 stores.
“With this renewed scheme, we’re working closely with Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia to lead the industry on soft plastics recycling.”
Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia Chief Executive Officer, Barry Cosier said: “We appreciate the leadership by Woolworths in establishing this collection network. This is just the start as we want to collect and recycle more soft plastic packaging.
“This industry-led initiative has ensured that supermarket in-store collections currently provide convenient access to soft plastics recycling for almost 70 per cent of Australians. As more brands and retailers join SPSA, we can increase collections in more stores, in more retailers and in more locations, boosting participation rates far beyond current levels.”
A full list of stores participating in the soft plastics recycling program is available on the Woolworths website here.
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For further information or images, please contact the Woolworths Media team at media@woolworths.com.au or 02 8885 1033.