A RAYMOND Terrace resident is questioning how soft plastics collected for recycling at Terrace Central Woolworths are being handled after repeatedly observing large quantities of plastic waste stored outdoors behind the supermarket.
The resident, who asked not to be named, said they had driven past the rear of the store several times and noticed large plastic collection bags overflowing from wire storage cages in Glenelg Street, near the Click and Collect area.
According to the resident, the bags appeared to contain soft plastics deposited by customers through the supermarket’s in-store recycling program.
“I’ve seen large plastic bags containing public-collected plastics discarded outside in large wire metal containers, overflowing onto the ground with plastic everywhere,” the concerned resident told News Of The Area.
The resident said the sight was concerning because the material appeared exposed to the weather, becoming wet and dirty, with some plastic scattered around the storage area.
“It looked like the bags had simply been left outside. I always assumed the plastics would be stored inside the store before being collected for recycling,” they said.
The discovery has left them questioning whether the material is ultimately being recycled and whether customers are being given an accurate impression of what happens to the plastics they carefully collect and return.
Many households take care to ensure soft plastics are clean and dry before depositing them in collection bins.
“A large number of local people are dropping off their plastic regularly thinking Woolworths is honestly having it collected to be recycled, not dumped outside in the weather where it can spill onto the ground,” the resident said.
They fear loose plastic could potentially be washed into stormwater drains, nearby waterways or end up in landfill if not properly managed.
“If it isn’t being recycled, the public should be informed,” the local shopper said.
The resident supplied photographs showing the plastic storage area and is calling for greater transparency around the handling of soft plastics collected through supermarket recycling programs.
The concerns come as community confidence in soft plastic recycling continues to rebuild following the collapse of the national REDcycle program in 2022, which left millions of kilograms of collected plastics stockpiled around Australia while recycling pathways were re-established.
Woolworths’ media team has been contacted for comment regarding the storage practices observed at the Raymond Terrace store and whether the materials remain destined for recycling.
By Jacie WHITFIELD
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