Close the Loop

SOFT PLASTICS RECYCLING

Soft plastic packaging often contains multiple different plastic types in order to function throughout the supply chain, and offer optimal protection and performance for various products and food items.

However the use of mixed soft plastics creates trouble at end of life, as separation of these materials is incredibly difficult. This means that most recyclers cannot process these mixed soft plastic materials.

Close the Loop (CtL) has worked tirelessly for over 20 years to develop processes, products and markets for complex waste streams like soft plastics, leading the way on the recycling of these materials in Australia and utilising this complex waste stream for use in new value-add products such as TonerPlas® and rFlex®.

WHERE DO WE RECEIVE SOFT PLASTICS FROM?

Close the Loop accept soft plastics direct from councils as well as industry partners and retail store drop-off programs. We do not receive soft plastics direct from consumers, however we encourage the community to engage with their local councils to determine available recycling programs in their area, or check the Recycle Mate App.

WHERE DO CLOSE THE LOOP RECYCLE SOFT PLASTICS?

he updated Close the Loop facility in Melbourne recycles soft plastics, along with cosmetics and print consumables such as printer cartridges and toner bottles. This facility marks an important milestone in the expansion of Australia’s soft plastic recycling capacity, which is expected to play a pivotal role in supporting the relaunch of soft plastic collections around the nation during 2024.
The Soft Plastics Taskforce made up of major supermarket retailers welcomes the launch and the contribution it will make, and Close the Loop have committed to help the Taskforce process some of the stockpiled materials form the previous RedCycle program.

The Australian-designed, Australian-made recycling technology used to recycle soft plastics and create TonerPlas® and rFlex® will be duplicated into multiple locations around Australia, which means that greater volumes of local waste will be turned into high value local products using a local workforce. This model reduces the carbon impacts of freight while raising awareness in local communities.