Soft plastics
Where possible, avoid and reuse soft plastics before disposal. Soft plastics must not be placed in your household recycling bin. Other specialised recycling programs are available.
Disposal options
- ACT Woolworths stores may accept clean and dry household soft plastics at participating stores (conditions apply). Check the Woolworths – Soft Plastic Recycling Program page for participating stores and accepted items.
- Soft plastics may be accepted through RecycleSmart, a doorstep collection service for hard-to-recycle items (fees and conditions apply).
- Pet food bags and pouches are accepted through the Royal Canin Recycling Program , which includes participating pet retailers and veterinary clinics (conditions apply).
- Compostable and biodegradable plastic bags must not be placed in your household recycling, FOGO or green garden waste bin. Compost at home where suitable. Otherwise, follow the manufacturer's disposal instructions or place in your household general waste bin.
- Soft plastics may be accepted through the Terracycle Soft Plastics Zero Waste Box, a mail-back recycling program that allows households and organisations to collect and return soft plastics for recycling (fees and conditions apply).
- If soft plastics cannot be avoided, reused or recycled through specialised programs, place them in your household general waste bin.
Additional information
- Soft plastics include items such as plastic bags, chip packets, confectionery wrappers, cling wrap, pet food bags and pasta bags.
- Do not place recyclables in plastic bags, as this prevents materials from being sorted correctly.
- Some soft plastic items, such as coffee packaging, biscuit wrappers, chip packets and pet food bags, may contain multiple layers of plastic, foil or other materials that cannot be separated through standard household recycling systems. Check the packaging for disposal instructions or recycling options where provided.
- Compostable and biodegradable plastic bags are different products and require different disposal methods. Check the packaging and follow the manufacturer's disposal instructions.
Related items
This may include shopping bags; soft plastic; food packets; plastic zip-lock bags; sandwich bags; biodegradable plastic bags; wrap; bubble wrap; pallet wrap; chocolate packaging; chip packets; cereal inserts; plastic sleeves; lolly wrappers; redcycle; green bags; potting mix bags; muesli bar wrappers; coffee packaging; coffee bean packaging; yogurt pouches; biscuit wrappers; confectionery wrappers; cereal liners; bread bags; pasta bags; frozen food bags; freezer bags; pet food bags; dog food bags; cat food bags; protein powder bags.