Mayor’s Message - Friday 19 July 2024

It is fantastic this week to launch an initiative that can help Ballarat recycle their soft plastics!  

We heard during community consultation for the Kerbside Transition Plan last year that many residents wanted a solution for their soft plastic waste.

In conjunction with the Australian Food and Grocery Council we have launched a pilot kerbside soft plastics recycling collection.  

This will allow you to recycle your soft plastics in a City of Ballarat-supplied orange bag that can be placed in your yellow-lid recycling bin.  

Any clean, empty and dry “scrunchable” plastics can be recycled in these bags, things like bread bags, cling wrap and plastic packets. You’ll be able to fit 1kg of soft plastics into each orange bag.

When the orange bag is full and tight like a basketball, secure it with a double knot and place it inside your yellow-lid recycling bin. These will be collected and recycled at a separate facility.  

Recycling soft plastics allows them to be transformed back into new packaging, keeps waste out of landfill and gives products a new life.

I bet you are wondering how to get one of these orange collection bags?  

Well, during this pilot program you can register here – ballarat.vic.gov.au or call Customer Service on 5320 5500 to register and pick up your bags.

I urge you to register quickly, because the pilot program is only open to 10,000 participants at this stage.  

At the City of Ballarat, we are committed to reducing waste going to landfill and creating a circular economy, that keeps materials in use for as long as possible.

And please remember to keep all other recycling items loose in your bin and never put loose soft plastics directly into your yellow-lid recycling bin. Loose plastics can damage collection trucks and recycling machinery.

- Mayor Cr Des Hudson