Over 700 Woolworths Stores Bring Back Soft Plastics Collection Points
The renewed soft plastics recycling scheme was first launched as a trial in five Victorian Woolworths stores in February 2024.
supermarketnews.co.nzShort answer: Woolworths has resumed in-store soft plastics recycling points across more than 700 stores in five Australian states as of early May 2026.
Details
- The renewed program has Woolworths accepting clean, dry soft plastics (bags, films, wrapping, biscuit trays, etc.) in dedicated collection bins near store entrances. This is part of a broader push to rebuild consumer confidence in recycling after the REDcycle suspension.[1][3]
- About 40 million pieces of soft plastic have been collected since pilots began, with recycled content used to make items like in-store wall panelling and bread bags containing 30% recycled plastic. The retailer is partnering with recyclers such as iQRenew, saveBOARD, and Plascrete to process and repurpose the material.[3][4]
- The expansion is aligned with Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA), aiming to grow a nationally coordinated soft plastics recovery network. Woolworths has also highlighted ongoing consumer demand for recycling through this program.[4][3]
Illustrative example
- How to participate: drop off clean, dry soft plastics in a single bag at the dedicated bin, with no food residue. The plastics are then sorted and recycled locally into new products or packaging.[3]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline of key milestones from the articles or summarize what types of items are currently accepted at Woolworths locations near London (note: Woolworths is Australia-based; if you’re asking about UK equivalents, I can compare with UK schemes).
Citations
- Woolworths soft plastics expansion to 700+ stores and program details.[3]
- Volume processed and examples of recycled product uses.[3]
- Partnerships and SPSA context.[3]