EarthChat

This week on EarthChat, Jill Grant discusses the return of soft plastics recycling to Australia and the exciting implications of having a method of dealing with this waste stream again.
Australia produces around 70 billion pieces of soft plastic (the “scrunchable” light coverings used in packaging such as chip packets, wrappers, biscuit packets and even bubble wrap and cling film). Prior to November 2022 a company called REDcycle was taking these plastics and doing a great job in converting them into other formats and taking them out of landfill.  Unfortunately the supply outstripped the infrastructure and storage capacity to deal with it and the company folded. However, since the establishment of Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA) and a series of innovative new companies investing in the conversion of the waste, we are back on track to deal with this in a constructive way.
 
Woolworths, Coles and Aldi are collecting packaging again and some Councils are running their own pilot programs to get the supply growing so that new products can be made from the waste plastic including packaging that can be recycled many times, an aggregate that can be used in concrete manufacture (significantly reducing carbon outputs and even a technology for converting the plastic to biofuels. This will significantly improve resource recovery and overall environmental outcomes.
 
Case studies at several sites in Australia and potential actions for Mitchell Shire residents to participate at home. work, school and other venues will be discussed in more detail.
 
SHOW NOTES
Legacy REDcycle plastics processed as industry calls for more consumer buy-in - ABC Newshttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-19/soft-plastics-recycling-redcycle-capacity-consumer-demand/106750142
Soft Plastic Stewardship Australia (SPSA) www.spsa.au
An independent, not for profit scheme to overcome long standing challenges on soft plastic recycling. SPSA was granted an 8 year exemption by ACCC in November 2025 from certain competition laws so that the industry can re-establish.  It is allowed to collect and recycle used soft plastic under a voluntary scheme
Members include over 40 brands and retailers
Aims include to provide convenient instore and kerbside access) to around 70% of Australians with over 700 collections points across 5 states and territories (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA) and 12 Councils in 3 States piloting kerbside collection
Report “Efficiency, Productivity and resilience: further integrating recycling into the broader manufacturing supply chains”  
Global Stewardship Playbook – a 7 part webinar series offering expert advice on the critical success factors for recycling and producer responsibility systems using case studies and learnings from Europe.
iQRenew
https://iqrenew.com
Mission to accelerate the transition to a resilient and circular use of resources by valuing waste and diverting materials away from landfill and closing the loop on recycling ti create new manufacturing opportunities and and job opportunities
Recently constructed a recycling and manufacturing plant on the NSW Central Coast (at Kundle Kundle near Taree) where soft [plastics can be recycled and glass can be turned back into sand at their virtual quarry in Wyong
Resin 8 Australia
www.resin8circular.com.au
This company which is co-founded with the Sustainable Concrete Group (SCG) produces 10000 tonnes of Resin8 concrete aggregate per year using hard to recycle soft plastics to produce a net zero carbon concrete aggregate. Currently scaling up and servicing Melbourne, Victoria but with plans to make partnerships in regional areas and products are available in smaller quantities eg 20kg bags for home concreting applications.
Woolworths
Soft Plastics Recycling is now available in over 700 stores
Find Soft Plastics Recycling Near You | Woolworthshttps://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/about/sustainability/recycling/soft-plastic Find Soft Plastics Recycling Near You | Woolworthshttps://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/about/sustainability/recycling/soft-plastic
Eco Bin
www.https//ecobin.com.au
Manufactured using recycled plastic and able to keep being recycled. Made in Melbourne and assembled locally using NDIS workplaces. Suitable for schools, homes, Government and business offices, healthcare, hospitality, environmental education organisations like CERES, Little Sprouts etc and donate bins to pre schools and primary schools across Australia to raise awareness and better recycling behaviours in the community.
How to Recycle Soft Plastics in Australia (2026 Update)https://www.ecobin.com.au/blogs/blog/recycle-soft-plastics
soft plastics recycling images at DuckDuckGohttps://duckduckgo.com/?q=soft+plastics+recycling++images&t=samsung&ia=web
Plasmar https://www.plasmar.com.au
Uses both hard and soft plastics to create 100% and 100% recyclable products including fencing materials, sleepers, posts that are durable and longlife.
The company issues a Certificate of Chain of Custody or Audit trail that proves the origin of the source materials.
Licella https://www.licella.com
Award winning Advanced Recycling Company - Licella Holdings Ltdhttps://www.licella.com/advanced-recycling/
Plastic waste to oil conversion process which creates sustainable biofuels.
RecycleMate www.recyclemate.com.au
Waste and Recycling made easy – lists stores and councils participating in soft plastic recycling
Mitchell Shire Recycling Initiatives
www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au
Look under Home/Residents/ Bins, Rubbish and Recycling
A-Z waste and recycling guide – covers all potential wastes and how to safely and efficiently dispose of it.
Soft Plastics are not currently able to be collected in kerbside bins but Petstock can take back clean petfood bags for recycling and Wallan and Seymour Resource Recovery Centres are taking polypropylene seed, fertiliser, stock feed and grain bags under the Bag Muster Program https://www.bagmuster.org.au an industry led collection and recycling program for soft plastic agricultural inputs, committed to recycling 100 % of collected bags to reduce waste and contribute to the circular economy.
Mitchell Shire is investigating the potential for further soft plastic recycling over the next 12 months.

This week on EarthChat, Tim Budge chats with Georgie Purcell, the Animal Justice Party’s MP in the Legislative Council. The EarthChat focuses on Georgie’s work in Parliament, her representation of this big electorate and the important policies of the Animal Justice Party and why they matter for all people in this region.This is the second conversation in our series talking to sitting MPs about their policies and how they are seeking to represent our region.Georgie Purcell is the Animal Justice Party Member for Northern Victoria in the Victorian Legislative Council, having been elected in 2022. A passionate advocate for animal welfare, she has spent more than a decade campaigning on issues including ending puppy farming, banning jumps racing and protecting native wildlife. Before entering Parliament, Georgie worked in union and communications roles and served as Chief of Staff to Victoria’s first Animal Justice Party MP.Holding a double degree in Law and Communications/Politics and admitted as an Australian lawyer, she is committed to advancing animal protection, environmental sustainability and stronger representation for young people in public life.
Read more about her here.

This week on Earthchat Marie Gerrard chats to to Una Hobday about a Rotary project that has developed an extensive data bank of native foods suitable for children in danger of malnutrition.In consultation with local gardeners and farmers, the foods have been selected for their nutritional value and local availability. These plants are suitable to be included in community gardens including school and kindergarten aid programs. Check it out on the website “Food Plant Solutions.”

This week Meredith Budge chats with Inaam Barakat, OAM about what it means to be an older migrant, caring within and across communities.Inaam was born in northern Lebanon and moved to Australia as a teenager. Across her life, she has been a committed humanitarian, feminist and advocate for seeing the good in all cultures and in all people. She was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in recognition of her community work with refugees, asylum seekers and many others over the years. In accepting the Award, she said, “This country gave us a great opportunity. I was a young woman when I migrated with my family and I'll do anything to protect my country.” In her work, she is resolute in reaching across cultures, difference and prejudice. She was also recognised as an Ambassador for Peace by the Universal Federation for Peace in 2022.On EarthChat, Meredith and Inaam chat about making the most of opportunities to care for others, for social justice and for never giving up in the face of adversity.

This week Marie  Gerrard chats with Ian Dempsy about the most important issues facing us due to environmental damage. They discuss the damage being done but also possible actions to mitigate them. All on this week's EarthChat.

Jaclyn Symes is the State Labor Member for Northern Victoria and the Minister for Environment, Energy and Resources, Climate Action and the SEC. She is also this week's guest on EarthChat, part of our series of talking to sitting local MPs about their vision for the region and how it aligns with BEAM's commitment to a thriving community for a healthy environment.Jaclyn is a born and bred local, and in our conversation, we explore her early influences, her passion for the local region and how she plans to make positive changes for the residents in its many towns. Find out her thoughts about the Goulburn River and we discuss the need to protect biodiversity, restore habitat and make our landscapes more resilient to climate change. Given her energy portfolio, we discuss the clean energy transition and making sure regional communities share in the reduced costs, jobs and investment it creates.

Does everyone have the same access to financial, legal and health benefits in today's society? Who will benefit from the massive role out of data centres? Does capitalism only work when socialism bails it out every ten years or so?
Why is it that "too big to fail" companies are given absolute govt support, and also why does Australia's richest person also benefit from millions in taxpayer-funded support? Is all of this fair?
Jacqui and Mark discuss all this and more on this week's EarthChat. Tune in!

FOE's Cam Walker joins Ruth to outline significant environmental issues for this next Victorian State Election. Cam will take us through the issues and then offer ways we can help to be part of the solution.Aside from the destructive and tragic cost for all species of the ongoing wars in Iran, Ukraine, and Gaza, the increased burning of fossil fuels by military forces is currently generating 5.5% of global greenhouse gases which is inevitably accelerating global warming thereby creating extreme weather events.Wild fires in Europe expose some of the global consequences of these extreme conditions. Here in Victoria, many are still reeling from last Summer’s bush fire losses, and now we are heading into an El Niño Summer with predictions suggesting this coming Summer will be even hotter than the last making significant parts of Australia extremely fire prone.Friends of the Earth and other active environmental organizations and groups campaign for a rapid transition to 100% renewable energy, ‘good’ jobs, and climate justice. This means we stop propping up aging coal and gas plants as well as ceasing our dependence on oil by electrifying our homes and locking in renewables, along with securing energy justice - a just energy system that will serve all communities and ultimately their environments with clean affordable power instead of adding to dirty corporate profit.Cam Walker will discuss how we can prepare for the emerging climate threat to Victoria’s ecosystems and biodiversity so we all can take action and support each other - especially those who need to work outside in the heat, including our precious food producers - as well as our wildlife and domestic animals, inner city and rural habitats.In a time when integrity and transparency need to be stridently and overtly upheld as critical values for driving legitimate organizations, FOE continues to independently and creatively persevere their quest for environmental and social justice for us all. They do this by heightening public awareness through education, creative resistance and actions, as well as advocating for social and legislative change through research, policy submissions, press releases, letters, petitions forums, and much more.Increasingly we are seeing Grass roots energy becoming essential to sustain and support community driven environmental and social enterprises such as Friends Of The Earth, (FOE). Join us to see how you can help.Cam Walker is Friends of the Earth Australia’s campaigns coordinator. Cam has been active on environment and climate justice issues for more than 25 years. He has lectured in environmental politics and change theory at RMIT University and is currently working with Victorian communities to protect farmland from unconventional gas and fracking, as well as new coal developments. You can follow Cam’s Twitter feed at @Cam_Walker.
All donations to Friends of the Earth Melbourne are tax deductible: https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/donate 
 
FOE strictly screens all financial support and refuses funds from unethical corporate sectors like fossil fuels, mining, and armaments. FOE continues to sustain its existence and activism through a mix of community donations, including individual support, membership fees, social enterprise like running community spaces and the Food Co-op in Collingwood, and philanthropic grants. To view FOE’s history of achievements since forming in 1973: https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/history
 
 

This week on EarthChat, Tim Budge talks with Dr Lynne Kelly AM, a science writer and Adjunct Research Fellow at LaTrobe University. After a secondary school career, Lynne returned to university to complete a doctorate, astonished by the way Indigenous cultures manage to memorise and teach a vast amount of practical information, all without writing.Over the past decade, she has focused on the use of story, music, place and art as mnemonic devices for vast amounts of information about the environment. Her books include The Memory Code, Memory Craft, The Knowledge Gene and two books written with Aboriginal co-author, Margo Neale, Songlines: the power and promise and Songlines for Younger Readers. She uses these techniques herself for learning languages, remembering bird species and has twice won the Australian Senior Memory Champion title.On EarthChat, Lynne and Tim will explore the memory methods used by those who depended on their memories for everything they knew: oral cultures including Aboriginal Australian, Native American, Pacific and African societies. We will explore Lynne’s big question, “How the hell do Indigenous elders remember so much stuff?
Read more about Lynne here and here.

This week, new EarthChat host Meredith Budge welcomes Clare Claydon as her first guest. A long-time, Central Victoria resident, Clare has spent her life working in community development across education, refugee and migrant support, adult learning, agriculture, Landcare and environmental projects. Having grown up in Ghana, Uganda and Kenya, and later lived in Papua New Guinea, she brings a rich global perspective to her life history and her personal and professional work.Retirement has only deepened Clare’s community involvement. She collects Indigenous seeds to support native revegetation and hosts a monthly First Nations Learning Group, helping participants learn about First Nations history and caring for Country through Indigenous knowledge and practice. What makes Clare tick? Find out and join Meredith and Clare as they explore Clare’s remarkable journey and her passion for the environment and thriving regional communities.