There’s a new recycling trend taking off in Newcastle.
Schools, businesses, and households are taking action to keep soft plastic out of landfill and the ocean.
Soft plastics are those scrunchy plastics, like chip packets, bread bags and cereal liners.
Hunter business Plastic Police® is on a mission to solve the soft plastic waste problem through education. They help organisations and communities to reduce, recycle and repurchase products containing recycled soft plastic. And thanks to funding support from Port of Newcastle’s Community Sponsorship Program, Plastic Police® has developed educational videos for businesses and schools to learn all about soft plastic.
The videos, developed by Plastic Police® and Out Of The Square Media, educate about the problems with soft plastic in the environment and the actions we can all take to be part of the solution.
Lexi Crouch, Plastic Police®’s Sustainability and Education Officer, said, “Our hope is that these videos will help to raise awareness of this challenging waste stream and inspire people to do something positive about it.”
Port of Newcastle’s Environment Manager Brigid Kelly said the Port was proud to partner with Plastic Police®.
“Port of Newcastle is committed to driving the principles of sustainability through its operations. Our staff have already collected 219 kgs of soft plastics for recycling and many of our tenants have also come on board.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Plastic Police® to help them spread the word about recycling soft plastics throughout the community through this informative video series,” Ms Kelly said.
Plastic Police® has developed Starter Packs for schools and businesses to help more organisations in the Hunter region and beyond to reduce, recycle and repurchase soft plastic.
Plastic Police® has helped organisations like Port of Newcastle, City of Newcastle, Hunter Water and the University of Newcastle recycle their soft plastic. Several local businesses and primary schools are also reducing and recycling soft plastic and turning it into bench seats, bollards and decking.
At the local Westfield shopping centre, you’ll find almost 200 wheel stops in the car park containing – you guessed it – recycled soft plastic.
The educational videos are available to the community for free, thanks to Port of Newcastle’s Community Sponsorship Program.
Interested in reducing and recycling soft plastic? Head to plasticpolice.com.au to learn more.
