Circular Plastics Illawarra is a local community advocacy and action group of concerned citizens in the environmental / research field from the Illawarra,

including representatives from University of Wollongong, Wollongong City Council, Shellharbour Council, Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation, plastic recycling experts, private sector consultants and citizen community advocates.

The group was established in late 2022 in response to the collapse of the REDcycle soft plastics recycling program, which meant that residents had lost the only local recycling outlet for household soft plastics.

We estimate that around 8,000 tonnes of soft plastic packaging waste is generated each year in the four local government areas in the Illawarra (Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Kiama) and very little is recovered.

We recognise that plastic waste and pollution are urgent ecological issues that need to be addressed by everyone, including producers, consumers, researchers, and policy makers (local, regional, national, and international levels). We want to inspire and accelerate the transition to a circular economy for plastics by:

• identifying and connecting with organisations and individuals actively involved in driving this change in the region and across the country.

• articulating the vision for a circular economy for plastics in the Illawarra and actions that individuals and organisations can take to support the transition.

• communicating this vision and practical information to the community, local councils, state and federal governments and local industry.

• fostering collaboration between manufacturers, recyclers, local councils, researchers and community organisations by building a regional network of committed organisations and individuals.