Toowoomba Regional Council is encouraging residents and businesses to take advantage of a new agricultural plastics recycling initiative, with Council now accepting eligible Stewardship Bags through the Big Bag Recovery program at five waste management facilities across the region.
Big Bag Recovery is the Australian Government-accredited product stewardship scheme for the recycling of Big Bags, which are commonly used across a wide range of industries and households to transport products and ingredients.
Items typically packaged in Big Bags include fertiliser, seeds, animal feed, flour, salt, sugar, milk powders, sand, gravel, mulch and cement.
Council Waste Services portfolio spokesperson, Councillor Melissa Taylor said the new service would provide a practical and sustainable recycling option for the region’s farming and agricultural sectors.
“We’re pleased to partner with Big Bag Recovery to provide our agricultural communities with another avenue to recycle eligible stewardship bags and keep valuable materials out of landfill,” Cr Taylor said.
“Council’s Waste Services team has been working closely with the Big Bag Recovery team over the past several months to establish this service, and we’re excited to now offer it at five of our regional waste management facilities.”
Eligible Big Bag Recovery Stewardship Bags can now be dropped off at the following facilities:
- Pittsworth Waste Management Facility
- Millmerran Waste Management Facility
- Clifton Waste Management Facility
- Jondaryan Waste Management Facility
- Cecil Plains Waste Management Facility (bookings required)
The program covers two sizes of bags, sacks and bulk bags, and accepts only specifically branded, recyclable bags made from woven polypropylene (wPP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
Cr Taylor said the initiative aligned with Council’s commitment to supporting resource recovery and the circular economy.
“Initiatives such as Big Bag Recovery play an important role in reducing agricultural waste sent to landfill while supporting the circular economy through practical recycling solutions,” she said.
“Council recognises the value of programs that help recover resources and provide environmentally responsible disposal options for our farming communities, and we are proud to support this initiative.”
Information about eligible bag brands and preparation requirements is available on Council’s website here –Â https://www.tr.qld.gov.au/Waste-and-water/Waste-and-recycling/Recycling-and-reducing-waste/Big-Bag-Recovery
