Ballarat Libraries join Soft Plastics Recycling Program expansion

Ballarat residents can now collect the orange Soft Plastics Recycling bags from all City of Ballarat libraries, making the program easier and more accessible.

The expansion provides residents with more convenient locations to collect the orange bags used to recycle eligible soft plastics and keep them out of landfill.

Previously, the orange bags were only available from the Phoenix Building and the City of Ballarat Operations and Environment Depot in Wendouree.

The bags are now available for collection from Ballarat Central, Sebastopol and Wendouree libraries.

Adding libraries as collection points gives residents across the municipality access to longer opening hours and more convenient locations.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the change would help more residents take part in the successful recycling program.

“We know residents are keen to recycle their soft plastics, so it makes sense to offer the orange bags from locations that are already well-used and easily accessible,” Cr Hargreaves said.

“We heard feedback from the community that the previous collection options didn’t suit everybody, so that’s why we are now making it easier than ever to be part of the program.

“By making the bags available through our libraries, we’re removing barriers to participation and making it easier for households to keep soft plastics out of landfill and give these materials a second life.”

Soft plastics can be collected by residents, packaged in supplied orange bags, and disposed of in kerbside recycling bins.

The Ballarat Soft Plastics Collection Program has been running since July 2024, and in that time more than 6700 Ballarat households have joined.

As of June 2026, more than 55,000 kilograms of soft plastics have been diverted from landfill and recycled into quality products and packaging – equivalent to about 5000 full 140-litre red-lid wheelie bins.

The program is available to all Ballarat households who receive City of Ballarat waste management services.

Using the supplied orange bags, residents can collect items such as bread bags, chip packets, bubble wrap, and other soft, scrunchable plastics. The bags can then be placed in yellow-lidded recycling bins for collection, freeing up space in the red-lidded household waste bin.

Residents interested in joining the program can register via the City of Ballarat website or by calling Customer Service on 5320 5500, where eligibility is confirmed before receiving a supply of orange bags.

To learn more, visit the City of Ballarat’s Soft Plastics Collection Program website.