Giving soft plastics a second, third, fourth life - and counting
Published on 25 March 2026
Nice work Surf Coast, your soft plastic recycling efforts are paying off, with the first shipment from Anglesea now on its way to becoming valuable new products.
A total of 2.28 tonnes of baled soft plastics from the Anglesea Transfer Station have arrived ready for recycling at APR ChemCycle in Dandenong South.
The response from the recycler says it all:
“We’re incredibly impressed by the quality of the material. Please pass on our thanks to the community.”
Surf Coast Shire Cr Adrian Schonfelder said this was a fantastic result and “a real credit to our community.”
“Residents are showing that when given the right options, they’re committed to reducing waste and doing the right thing for the environment,” he said
“To receive such positive feedback from the recycler about the quality of our materials is something the whole community should be proud of. It shows the care people are taking to recycle right.”
Giving plastic wrappers and bread bags a new life
Once received, the bales are opened and carefully sorted using a combination of density separation, shredding and optical technology to isolate the right plastics for recycling.
From there, the materials begin a new life.
Some are transformed into recycled plastic resin, ready to be used in new soft plastic packaging. Others go through advanced recycling, where they’re converted into oil that can be used to create food-grade plastic packaging.
Both pathways keep materials in use and out of landfill - creating a truly circular loop.
A key part of this process is APR’s Australian-first pyrolysis unit. Using high heat in a zero-oxygen environment, the technology breaks plastics down into simpler compounds, producing gas (to power the plant), plastic oil (for new plastics) and char (used in road base).
Room to grow
When operating at full capacity, the German-made unit will process up to five tonnes of plastic each day, with just one kilogram of plastic waste producing around 850 millilitres of recycled oil.
By October, a phase two upgrade will increase capacity to up to 60 tonnes per day using additional infrared technology.
Drop off your soft plastics
“We’d love to see even more residents get involved. By dropping off eligible soft plastics at Anglesea Transfer Station, you’re helping create real environmental benefits. Every bag and wrapper makes a difference - keep up the great work!” Cr Schonfelder said.
Residents can drop off eligible soft plastics at the Anglesea Transfer Station.
Items must carry plastic resin codes 2, 4 or 5, including bread bags, chip packets, cling wrap, pet food bags and more.
To check what’s accepted, visit surfcoast.vic.gov.au/softplastics.