July Update

Monthly meeting

Thanks to everyone who came along on Friday. The Minutes of the meeting are available here.

Our next meeting will be held on Friday 29 August, 9.15-11 in Corrimal and online. See Activities page for details, including joining the meeting online.

After dark blue light litter clean up

• Wollongong Council hosted an unusual and fun event that used blue light technology to illuminate and identify fluorescent plastics - materials that attract wildlife like fish and birds even in daylight.

• The event was be held at Stuart Park, Wollongong, 12 August, 5-7pm.

• See CPI’s new videos about the event on CPI’s Instagram page. There are 2 short videos: -

  • How birds see things. Why Blue Light.

  • What was found during the event.

Soft plastics recycling in Wingecarribee Shire

• Wingecarribee Shire Council announced last week that residents can continue to bring household soft plastics to the Community Recycling Centre (CRC) in Moss Vale, following a successful one-year trial.

• The trial, launched in April 2024 in partnership with RecycleSmart, resulted in 10 tonnes of soft plastic being diverted from landfill and the natural environment, which is equivalent in weight to six small cars. 

• More information: https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/News/Media-Release/Soft-Plastics-Recycling-to-Continue-Following-Successful-Trial

Soft plastics recycling in the Illawarra

• Two more drop-off events are planned within the next few months with support from ISJO and Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA).

• Shoalhaven Council is also planning a permanent collection at their CRC in Nowra.

• More information on venues and dates will be advised soon (but start collecting!)

Soft plastics recycling

Recycling capacity for soft plastics is slowly growing, including:

• IQRenew expect to finish processing the remains of the REDcycle stockpile by the end of the year and will be able to accept increasing quantities from retailer and council collections. IQ Renew has an advanced soft plastics facility located in Kundle Kundle (NSW).

• APR Plastics is building a commercial scale plastics-to-oil recycling plant in Melbourne which is expected to be operating by the end of the year. The oil will then be processed into plastic resin to replace virgin plastics in packaging and other plastic products.

• Close the Loop is continue to recycle soft plastics into TonerPlas and an injection moulding resin.

Join us on social media!

• Please help to build our network by following us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and share the links with any friends and colleagues.

• Check out our new video on how to reduce plastic packaging by shopping at the FlameTree Co-op in Thirroul (produced by the talented Jadzia Wolff).