MORNINGTON Peninsula residents and businesses now have a new way to recycle soft plastics, with collection bins launched at the Mornington and Rye Resource Recovery Centres as part of a trial.
Delivered in partnership with Solo Resource Recovery, the new bins provide a free and practical drop-off option for soft plastics, which can’t be placed in kerbside recycling bins.
From bread bags and chip packets to shopping bags, bubble wrap and frozen food bags, these everyday items can now be kept out of landfill and turned into new resources.
Once collected, the plastics are processed into plastic oil, gas and char, which are all used in manufacturing, with nothing going to landfill.
The procedure produces no process waste and uses less energy than making new plastic from raw materials.
Acting mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said soft plastics have been a tricky material to deal with, so it’s great to be able to offer our community a clear and practical way to recycle them, as well as our businesses generating large amounts of clean pallet wrap.
“Whether it’s households or local businesses, this gives everyone an opportunity to do their part and keep valuable materials out of landfill.”
What you can drop off
Soft plastics must be clean, dry and scrunchable. A quick test is if you can scrunch it, it can go in:
Plastic shopping bags, pallet wrap (clear and black), Produce bags, bread bags and wraps, biscuit and snack wrappers,bubble wrap and air pillows, cereal box liners, confectionery and chip packets, and Frozen food bags
What can’t be accepted
Hard plastics such as bottles, containers and toys; rigid packaging or takeaway containers; dirty or food-soiled cling wrap; compostable or biodegradable plastics
First published in the Mornington News – 7 April 2026
