The ACCC has granted interim authorisation with conditions to the major supermarkets Coles Group, Woolworths Group and ALDI Stores, to continue their collaboration to recycle stockpiled soft plastics and continue with the pilot in-store collection program.

In  June 2023, the ACCC granted authorisation that allowed the supermarkets to collaborate through the Soft Plastics Taskforce in processing the soft plastics stockpiles following the suspension of REDcycle’s collection program.

“While it is disappointing that the majority of the soft plastic stockpiles remain in storage, we appreciate that recycling processors came online in 2024 and only now is there capacity to process the stockpiles,’ ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

“It is important to keep the stockpiles out of landfills and this interim authorisation will enable the supermarkets to process the stockpiles with the requisite sense of urgency, without any disruption,” Mr Keogh said.

Interim authorisation will also allow the soft plastics instore collection pilot program operating in 12 Melbourne stores – five Coles, five Woolworths, and two Aldi – to continue.

“Many consumers want to see a return to instore soft plastics collection and recycling on a wider scale so we are keen to see that this pilot program continues with some urgency and enables future expansion of instore collections,” Keogh said.

This interim authorisation is largely subject to the same reporting conditions as the previous authorisation, requiring the major supermarkets to provide the ACCC with quarterly progress reports and minutes of each meeting of the Soft Plastics Taskforce. It is also a condition that all arrangements must immediately terminate upon the expiry or revocation of the interim authorisation.

“Given the level of consumer concerns it is important that there is continued transparency about what progress of the supermarkets are making in their processing of the soft plastic stockpiles,” Keogh said.

A public consultation process has commenced on the substantive application, with submissions due by 6 August 2024.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@propack.pro

Sign up to the ProPack newsletter