Why do we use plastic wrap for some of our magazines?
We use plastic wrap for about 19 per cent of our magazines—around 23,000—sent to ratepayers outside the Mornington Peninsula. This wrapping makes sure the address sheets stay secure and the magazines reach the right recipient. We send the other 98,000 magazines unwrapped to our local community, helping us reduce plastic use overall.
Why plastic wrap?
- Recycled plastic: Rest assured, our wrap is not your typical plastic. It's made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, which is recycled from used materials. Using recycled materials creates demand for recycled products as we move towards a circular economy on our Peninsula.
- Identification: The wrap is printed with the LDPE 4 logo and 'PCR - Post Consumer Recycled,' so you know that it's a recycled product.
- Environmental benefits: Using PCR plastic boosts demand for recycled products, helping to reduce plastic pollution, which isa critical part of a circular economy.
- Tender process: After looking at many options, we chose the best one for our three-year contract, ending in November 2026.
- Tender process: PCR plastic was an option available to us in the tender submissions for the magazine. We looked at all the possibilities and consulted with our Circular Economy and Waste team.
Other options considered:
- Compostable film: This is more expensive and could lead to potential issues. This type of wrap is not accepted in our Shire's food and green waste bins, so other Council's might not take it either. Since the magazine is delivered to other Councils outside the Peninsula, this could cause confusion.
- Paper envelopes: There is a new supplier in this space, but the service is still in the early days of development.
How can we recycle the wrap?
Currently, there is no soft plastic recycling through REDcycle, and our supermarket's’ soft plastic recycling is temporarily closed. We are confident that soft plastic recycling options will be available soon in Victoria. In the meantime, please dispose of the wrap in your rubbish bins.
For updates, please visit our Waste and Recycling Guide and Future Changes to Waste Services pages.
We aim to balance cost, environmental impact and practicality.