Latest News About Woolworths Soft Plastics Recycling

Core answer: Woolworths has relaunched its in-store soft plastics recycling program, expanding to about 700+ supermarkets across five Australian states, with collections now re-enabled and ongoing product stewardship partnerships in place as of May 2026. This marks a major resumption after previous suspensions and aligns with industry efforts toward a national soft plastics recovery network.

Details and context:

• Expansion and scope: The program is active in roughly 700 Woolworths stores nationwide, signaling a large-scale revival of soft plastics collection points after earlier disruptions [sources report multiple outlets across five states, including South Australia joining recently].[1][3][4]
• Volume processed to date: Woolworths notes that around 40 million pieces of soft plastic packaging (about 310 tonnes) have already been collected and processed under the renewed scheme since pilot trials began in 2024.[4][1]
• Recycled outputs: Collected plastics are being recycled locally into products such as in-store wall panelling and Woolworths own-brand bread bags with about 30% recycled content.[3][1][4]
• Partnerships: The program is delivered in collaboration with recyclers including saveBOARD, iQRenew, and Plascrete, with SPSA (Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia) playing a coordinating role in shaping a national framework.[1][3]
• Leadership statements: Woolworths 360 Managing Director Rob McCartney emphasized strong customer demand and the retailer’s commitment to enabling recycling through renewed collection points. SPSA CEO Barry Cosier described the rollout as foundational for scaling a national network.[5][1]

What this means for consumers:

• If you shop at Woolworths in Australia, you should now be able to drop soft plastic packaging (e.g., plastic bags, wrappers) at dedicated in-store collection points at participating locations, subject to the latest store-specific details.[3][1]
• The recycled materials are intended for local reuse and for products within the stores, supporting a circular approach to soft plastics in retail.[1][3]

Would you like a quick regional guide showing which states or specific stores currently list active soft plastics collection points, or a summary of the program’s key partners and how to participate? I can pull the most current store-level details if you’d like.

Citations:

• Woolworths expansion to 700+ stores and state uptake, including South Australia:.[3][1]
• Volume collected to date and examples of recycled outputs:.[1][3]
• Partnerships and SPSA coordination:.[3][1]
• Woolworths leadership quotes and program re-launch:.[5][1]