2026-10-26
The ACT Greens welcome the announcement that construction on Canberra’s new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at Hume has commenced, marking a step forward towards restoring our city’s recycling capacity.
Canberrans have been waiting for a replacement since the previous recycling facility was destroyed by fire in 2022. ACT Greens Leader Jo Clay said today’s announcement is welcome progress, but it's years late and significant gaps remain in the city’s recycling system, particularly when it comes to soft plastics.
“As the Minister for City and Government Services herself has acknowledged, Canberrans care deeply about recycling and reducing waste. Yet there is still no free and convenient public option to recycle soft plastic in Canberra – and this new facility won't recycle soft plastic either.
“Households are struggling with the cost of living. Government should not expect Canberrans to pay to arrange and pay to recycle soft plastic. Like many other jurisdictions in Australia are already doing, this is a core service government should offer for free.”
There is strong overwhelming community support for soft plastic recycling, but the lack of a free and convenient public option is creating unnecessary barriers for the many Canberrans who want to reduce waste and keep soft plastics out of landfill.
“Labor is not taking recycling seriously. The Labor Governments at both the ACT and Federal levels have abandoned efforts on soft plastic recycling.
“The Federal Labor Government shelved their plans to introduce strict, mandatory national packaging laws. That national approach would have made producers pay for the recycling and required them to design out waste from the start.
"Industry supported this national approach but Federal Labor abandoned it despite promising it for a decade, shifting the cost back onto ACT Labor – who have now passed the problem back onto Canberran households.
The ACT Greens are calling on Labor to clearly outline their plans for soft plastic recycling.
“We need a plan that keeps soft plastics out of landfill, protects our precious bush capital and doesn't shift this problem back onto ordinary Canberrans.”