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70% of plastic packaging being recycled or composted

Plastic packaging has some of the lowest recovery rates of any material. This Target seeks to significantly improve the volume of plastic packaging that is successfully recycled or composted.


 

Figure 1: Progress towards the 70% Plastic Recovery Target as of 2019-20.


Outlined below are:

  • Resources to support Members’ progress towards this Target.
  • A list of current APCO activities supporting the recycling or composting of plastic packaging in Australia.

 

Supporting resources for Members

  • The ANZPAC Plastics Pact (ANZPAC) is a collaborative solution that brings together key players behind a shared vision of a circular economy for plastic, where plastic never becomes waste or pollution. ANZPAC is focused on implementing solutions tailored to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands region.
  • The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) Program is an on-pack labelling program that is helping consumers to recycle correctly and supporting brand owners to design packaging that is recyclable at end-of-life. While the ARL covers packaging of all material types, the complex nature of plastics recycling (particularly soft plastics) is significantly mitigated by the provision of clear instructions on pack.

 

APCO activities supporting this Target

  • Delivery of the ARL Program to APCO Members. This includes providing access to the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) which allows Members to assess the recyclability of their packaging based on current material recycling systems available in Australia and New Zealand.
  • Delivery of the National Compostable Packaging Strategy in June 2021, in partnership with the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) and the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA). This document is a comprehensive approach to how Australia can develop an environmentally sustainable system for compostable packaging.
  • Through ANZPAC, delivery of the Polypropylene Plant Packaging Recycling (PoPPr) Program, in partnership with Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA). This will establish a national recovery program for polypropylene plant packaging.
  • Through ANZPAC, delivery of the Oil Containers Product Stewardship Program, which will design a national scheme to collect and recycle used plastic motor oil containers.