Big Bag Recovery Sustainability Commitments
2015
Identifying a Sustainable Solution for Plastic Packaging: Big Bag Recovery
Founder and Managing Director, Stephen Richards, identified a problem with the disposal of bulk bags and sacks, with farmers burning and burying bags. First collections were completed to send these materials for recycling.
2021
Australian Government Accredited Product Stewardship Scheme
Applied for and was approved as an Australian Government Accredited Product Stewardship Scheme.
2025
ACT Winner, Telstra Best of Business Awards
Big Bag Recovery was named the ACT State Winner in two categories of the 2025 Telstra Best of Business Awards - Embracing Innovation and Promoting Sustainability. This recognition validates the scheme's practical, traceable approach to plastic recovery and the collective impact of the farmers, manufacturers and businesses participating in the program.
2025
Australia's first purpose built Bulk Bag Recycling Facility
Big Bag Recovery’s sister company, Circular Communities Australia, opened the first purpose built Bulk Bag & Sack Recycling Facility in Toowoomba, QLD.
2025
Australia's First Purpose-Built Bulk Bag Recycling Facility (Operational)
On 26 February 2025, Circular Communities Australia opened the first purpose-built bulk bag and sack recycling facility in the Southern Hemisphere in Toowoomba, QLD. The facility targets diversion of 4,000 tonnes of plastic from landfill annually and is growing its workforce to 15 full-time jobs, with social enterprise partnerships embedded in operations.
2030
Achieve 10,000,000kg of plastics recovered through the Stewardship Program
By increasing the plastics recovered through the program, and working with more brands, we aim to recover 10,000,000kg by 2030.
