Over the past few months our volunteers have supported the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (ISJO) and its four member councils – Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven – to run 7 events for soft plastics drop off for recycling pilot project.

The proposal for a large-scale plastics recycling facility in the NSW Southern Highlands has attracted strong opposition from the local council and residents

National Packaging / Soft Plastics Reforms

A summary on what is happening with National Packaging Reforms with links to various initiatives.

Microplastics Data Collection Activity - Corrimal Beach

Circular Plastics Illawarra with Corrimal Rotary conducted a microplastics data collection activity at a local Illawarra Beach on Friday 4 October 2024.

NSW EPA are seeking feedback on its draft paper “NSW Plastics: The Way Forward“. This is open for feedback until Monday 4th November 2024.

Circular Plastics Illawarra’s community survey revealed intense frustration at a lack of local recycling for soft plastics.

The Drowning in Waste - Plastic Pollution in Australia’s Oceans and Waterways report to the House of Representatives - Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water has been published

This event brought together expert panelists to meet with our local community, outlining some emerging opportunities for a Circular Economy for soft plastic packaging.

The REDcycle soft plastic recycling scheme collapsed in late 2022 due to a lack of end markets for the material. This resulted in a widely publicised stockpile of around 12,000 tonnes at over 40 sites.

BlueScope Steel is testing the replacement of small amounts of coal with waste plastics in coke ovens at their Port Kembla smelter. This reduces carbon emissions in coke making while providing an alternative treatment for hard-to-recycle plastics.

Our first year has focused on research, engagement with organisations already actively engaged in plastics circularity, and working out how we can best support and accelerate action in the Illawarra.

Shoalhaven City Council (‘Council’) has an ambitious target to divert 90% of its waste from landfill. To support this target Shoalhaven is transforming its waste depot in Nowra from a waste sorting and disposal facility …