Council starts soft plastics and textile recycling trial
Published on 10 November 2025
Mount Alexander Shire Council is trialling a soft plastics and textile recycling service.
Residents are now able to drop off soft plastics and textiles at the Castlemaine Transfer Station.
These recycling services will be available to households free of charge during the six-month trial. The goal of the trial is to gauge the level of community uptake and the costs involved. The outcome will determine whether fees will be required or whether council can absorb the costs and subsidise the service.
Soft plastics will be sent in bulk to APR Chemcycle on the outskirts of Melbourne and turned into a recycled plastic resin, which will be used to make new food-grade packaging.
From a chip packet, back to a chip packet, this is a circular solution for soft plastics.
Soft plastics recycling reduces reliance on fossil fuels and helps to address the global plastic waste crisis.
Mount Alexander Shire’s Mayor, Cr Rosie Annear, said that the soft plastics and textile recycling trial is the next step in Council’s commitment to sustainability and climate action.
“Reducing waste and protecting our environment is something our community cares deeply about," said Mayor Annear.
“This trial gives residents an easy way to recycle textiles and soft plastics that often end up in landfill.
“By working together to recycle more and waste less, we’re creating a sustainable future for our shire.”
The Castlemaine Transfer Station will accept plastics that can be scrunched up into a ball in your hand, such as bread bags, food packaging and bubble wrap.
Residents’ damaged textiles will be sent to Textile Recyclers Group where it will be sorted by fibres and colour, baled, shredded and spun back into yarn.
The recycled yarn is used to make tote bags, cushions, gloves, socks, rugs, throws, blankets, felts, underlay, insulation and furniture filler.
On average, Australians create around 27 kilograms of textile waste each year and 93 per cent ends up in landfill. That's more than 100 t-shirts per person.
Textiles accepted include:
- clean clothing such as pants, skirts, jackets etc. that are not fit for op shops
- linen items such as sheets, pillow-cases blankets, towels, cushions and pillows, doonas
- pairs of shoes
- fabric and yarn off-cuts.
Textiles not accepted include:
- swim wear and underwear
- backpacks
- mattresses and mattress protectors
- curtains with hooks and eyelets
- re-useable shopping bags.
The number of transactions, kilograms recycled and all costs will be recorded.
Learn about soft plastics recycling at www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Recycle-soft-plastics.
Learn about textile recycling at www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Recycle-textiles.