Australia's competition watchdog extends approval for supermarket soft plastics recycling

It will require supermarkets to submit quarterly progress reports.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted conditional authorisation for Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI to continue collaborating on soft plastics recycling until 31 July 2026.

The approval allows supermarkets to process leftover REDcycle stockpiles and expand collection programs beyond Victoria and New South Wales.

The ACCC will require supermarkets to submit quarterly progress reports and meeting minutes, which will be made public.

“This is a significant issue for many consumers, so continued transparency about what progress the supermarkets are making in their processing of the soft plastic stockpiles is important,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

The ACCC also introduced a new condition preventing major supermarkets from restricting recycling or logistics providers from servicing other customers.

Following its draft determination in December 2024, the ACCC received mixed feedback, with some submissions supporting the move while others urged supermarkets to take a broader role in industry-wide solutions.

However, the commission clarified that long-term industry-led solutions, including a proposed stewardship scheme, would require separate authorisation in the future.

The decision does not extend to any conduct related to such a scheme, meaning further regulatory steps may be needed for comprehensive industry-wide recycling efforts.