Here’s the latest on Woolworths soft plastic recycling.
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Woolworths has expanded and reinstated in-store soft plastics collection points to more than 700 stores across five states in Australia as of early May 2026. The program has seen tens of millions of soft plastic items recycled since its pilot, with material used to create products like in-store wall panelling and bread bags containing recycled content. [Source: Woolworths news release, 2026; Packaging News reporting on expansion][1][3]
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The renewed scheme follows earlier growth plans to reach hundreds of stores (with targets around 500 stores and ongoing expansion), signaling a continued push to scale the national soft plastics recovery network in collaboration with Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia and partner recyclers. [Sources discuss expansion milestones and SPSA involvement][2][7]
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For customers, Woolworths’s program provides convenient drop-off during weekly shopping, reinforcing consumer demand for accessible soft plastics recycling after disruptions in earlier years. The initiative is part of broader industry efforts to establish a nationwide, coordinated approach to soft plastics recycling. [Woolworths statement and industry context][3][1]
Illustration of what to expect:
- In-store drop-off points at participating Woolworths locations.
- Recyclables processed locally into products used by the stores or with recycled content.
- Ongoing collaboration with industry bodies to standardize and expand the recovery network.
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent store list near Dallas or provide a quick map of participating Woolworths locations in Australia. I can also summarize the key figures (tonnage, pieces collected) from the latest reports.
Sources
Soft plastic packaging drop off recommences at Woolworths stores, including the Illawarra, Southern Highlands and South Coast. From Woolworth’s web site the following stores in these areas should have a collection bin, similar to the one above somewhere near the front of the store.
www.circularplasticsillawarra.orgThursday, 7 May 2026: Soft plastics recycling is officially back in more than 700 Woolworths stores across five states, providing Australian families with a convenient way to reduce household waste. The renewed soft plastics recycling scheme was first launched as a trial in five Victorian Woolworths stores in February 2024. Since then, hundreds more locations have rolled out their collection points, with select Woolworths stores in South Australia joining the scheme this week. With this...
www.woolworthsgroup.com.auWoolworths is preparing to significantly expand its soft plastics recycling programme, aiming to have collection points in 500 stores over the next year.
indihub.com.auMore than 700 Woolworths supermarkets across five states are now accepting soft plastics again, marking a major expansion of Australia’s growing soft plastics recovery network.
www.packagingnews.com.auInner West Council brings soft plastic recycling back to local supermarkets, making it easier for residents to recycle and reduce plastic waste.
www.innerwest.nsw.gov.auThe establishment of the Soft Plastics Taskforce serves as a critical response to the challenges posed …
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