Recycle your soft plastics

Mount Alexander Shire Council is launching a new trial program to collect and recycle soft plastics. 

This service will be available free of charge during the six-month trial and the goal of the trial is to gauge the level of community uptake and the costs involved.

When: From 10 November 2025
Drop-off location: Castlemaine Transfer Station
Accepted soft plastics: If your soft plastic is scrunchable, it’s recyclable!
Cost: FREE for the duration of the trial
Eligibility: Service is only for residents of Mount Alexander Shire
Quantity: Up to one quarter of a cubic metre (¼ m3) or one full 240 L wheelie bin. Commercial quantities are not accepted

What type of soft plastics are accepted?

Soft plastics that are accepted

Examples of acceptable and recyclable soft plastics include:

  • Plastic bags
  • Biscuits and other snack wrappers
  • Chip packets and other silver lined snack wrappers
  • Fresh and frozen food and veggie wrappers/bags
  • Pasta bags, rice bags (both plastic and the woven type), bead bags (without the tie), and cereal liners
  • Cling wrap, bubble wrap, and snap lock/zip lock bags
  • Document sleeves, mail satchels and carrier bags
  • Plastic pet food and clean potting mix bags

Soft plastics that are not accepted

Plastics that are not accepted as part of the soft plastics trial include:

  • Rigid plastics
  • Compostable plastics, which are not recyclable with conventional plastics
  • PET, PVC, PS or nylon

What happens to your soft plastics?

Once collected, soft plastics are transported in bulk to APR Chemcycle, located in Truganina, Melbourne. APR uses a process called pyrolysis, which heats plastics in the absence of oxygen to break them down into simpler compounds. These materials are initially converted into:

  • Gas for energy
  • Plastic oil
  • Char (used as a filler)

The long-term goal is to transform these recycled materials into new plastic packaging, supporting a circular economy.

Accepted plastics typically carry resin codes 2, 4, or 5 and include items like plastic bags and  plastic packaging for food items.

Why recycling soft plastic matters

Soft plastics are a major contributor to landfill waste due to their convenience and widespread use. 

By recycling them, we can:

  • Significantly reduce landfill volume
  • Protect our natural environment
  • Contribute to the development of a circular economy by turning this resource into new plastic packaging

More information

For more information contact the waste team on email waste@mountalexander.vic.gov.au or call 03 5471 1700.

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