Too Soft to Recycle: Climate Conscience Man’s Soft Plastics Guilt

Climate Conscience Man isn’t a hoarder. He’s just… waiting. For someone to figure out what to do with the mountain of soft plastics spilling from his kitchen cupboards like a slow-motion avalanche.

At least, that’s what he tells himself each time he adds more plastics to the stash.

It started with the best intentions. He’d read the labels. He’d seen the REDcycle bins at the supermarket. He’d even sorted his plastics by type (just a little - he’s not a maniac).

But then the scheme collapsed. The bins disappeared. And suddenly, Climate Conscience Man was stuck with a growing pile of soft plastic “recyclables” that weren’t going anywhere.

So he did what any semi-responsible, guilt-ridden citizen would do. He kept collecting. And collecting. Well mostly, because recently he has also started throwing some of it in the non-recycling bin. He feels guilty about that too.

So What Even Is Soft Plastic?

Soft plastics are those flexible items that crinkle, stretch, or tear. Think: bread bags, cereal liners, produce bags, pasta packets, frozen veggie packs. They’re technically recyclable, but not through your yellow kerbside bin. For years, Aussies relied on REDcycle to collect and process them. Until… it turned out REDcycle wasn’t really recycling. It was just stockpiling. Oops.

Since REDcycle’s collapse in late 2022, Climate Conscience Man, like thousands of other Aussies, has been left in limbo. Some trial schemes are popping up, but there’s nothing national, legislated, coordinated, or reliable. Most councils still don’t accept soft plastics. And supermarkets? They’re still selling everything in shrink-wrap.

Climate Conscience Man never expected to be the kind of guy who feels guilty about a bag of snow peas or lettuce mix. But here he is, conflicted and furious at cling wrap. Every new piece of packaging brings with it a familiar internal script:

“This shouldn’t exist.”

“But I need the thing inside it.”

“I’ll recycle it later.”

“Oh wait. No, I won’t.”

“Better add it to the stash…”

“Maybe I should just chuck it out… “

He’s not alone. Millions of households are quietly holding onto mountains of packaging waste, caught between a desire to do better and a system that simply doesn’t let them.

So What Can He Do?

• Cut back at the source. Buy loose produce, bulk dry goods, and refill where possible

• Switch materials. Choose cardboard, paper, glass, or tins when available

• Get vocal. Email your local MP and ask them to get serious about legislating to deal properly with this

• Stay updated. Some councils and stores are trialling new collection programs - it’s worth checking regularly.

What Doesn’t Help?

• Putting soft plastics in your kerbside recycling bin (they clog up sorting machines)

• Wish-cycling - sending things off in the hope they’ll be sorted out magically

• Feeling like a failure for not being able to solve a systemic problem solo.

Climate Conscience Man is trying to do his best to cut waste. But it’s hard to feel good about small wins when the recycling symbol on that plastic bag is basically a polite lie.

So no, he’s not building a shed to store it all. But he’s still not throwing it out either. Not yet.

How’s your plastic pile?

Is it still growing? Have you found any clever alternatives or local solutions? Drop a comment below, or better yet, tell your supermarket manager you’re done buying fruit in plastic and contact your local MP and tell them you want our Government to get serious about legislation to tackle this issue.

Climate Conscience Man will thank you.

(So will your kitchen cupboard.)