REDcycle Initiative Helps Turn Plastic Marine Waste Into Convenient Coles Shopping Bags

Did you know that Coles shopping bags are made of 80 per cent recycled plastic and 20 per cent plastic marine waste? Every piece of plastic collected at REDcycle drop-off points in Aspley and nearby suburbs has contributed to the initiative to turn them into shopping bags.



Coles offers marine reusable shopping bags at most of its stores for 25c each. The initiative is under the Coles’ Together zero waste ambition to remove waste content from the environment and increase the amount of recycled content. 

This has allowed Coles to reduce the need to use virgin plastic as well, boosting the circular economy solution to plastic waste. The initiative is also supporting the delivery of Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets.

About 10 per cent of the marine reusable shopping bags’ sale is diverted to the Clean Up Australia’s Buy Recycled program. 

Photo Credit: REDcycle/Coles

Coles is also rolling out reusable mesh produce bags across the country for customers to purchase and reuse when buying fruit and veggies. The bags are made from 90% recycled material, helping customers reduce their need for single-use plastics while they shop.

Earlier this year, Coles also rolled out fresh produce bags made from 50% recycled plastic across its supermarkets. This initiative, along with improvements such as increasing the number of bags per roll and replacing plastic cylinders with cardboard, will reduce Coles’ use of virgin plastic by about 130 tonnes each year.

“Coles and our customers have collected more than 2.3 billion pieces of soft plastic through REDcycle since 2011 and we plan to continue this journey to divert plastic packaging from landfill,” Coles’ Chief Sustainability, Property and Export Officer Thinus Keevé said. 

“We encourage our customers to reuse their bags as often as possible, but when they do reach the end of their useful life, these bags can be recycled through soft plastic collections in any our stores at the REDcycle drop off points.”

Photo Credit: REDcycle

REDcyle Drop-Off Points

In Aspley and nearby suburbs, REDcyle drop-off points are found at:

Coles Aspley
591 Robinsons Rd
Aspley QLD 4034
Coles Aspley Village
59 Albany Creek Rd
Aspley Hypermarket QLD 4034
Woolworths Aspley
59 Albany Creek Rd
Aspley QLD 4034
Woolworths Carseldine
735 Beams Rd
Carseldine QLD 4034
Coles Taigum
312-320 Roghan Road
Taigum QLD 4018
Woolworths Taigum
217 Beams Rd
Taigum QLD 4018
Coles Bracken Ridge
Cnr Norris & Telegraph Rds
Bracken Ridge QLD 4017
Coles Chermside
Westfield S/C, Cnr Gympie & Hamilton Rds
Chermside QLD 4032



Limits Lifted on Selected Everyday Items at Coles and Other Supermarkets

If you shop for supplies at Coles and other supermarkets, here’s some great news! Purchase caps have started to be lifted on selected everyday staples.

Coles Aspley and Other Branches

Coles has lifted purchase limits on all types of meat, UHT and fresh milk, tissues, and nappies.

Photo Credit: nutritionfacts.org

Meanwhile, the company currently still has a 1 pack/shopper limit on toilet paper and paper towels; and 2 packs/shopper on sugar, eggs, canned tomatoes, flour, pasta, dry rice, frozen vegetables and desserts, liquid soap, antibacterial wipes, and hand sanitiser.

Individual stores may still impose additional limits on other items as the need arises, so shoppers should check in-store announcements or signages for related updates.

Community Hour

At Coles, weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. is designated as the Community Hour. During this time, vulnerable shoppers who require assistance and access will be allowed to complete their shopping ahead of the regular store clientele.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are for elderly customers, their carers, other people needing special assistance, and the friends and neighbours of those who need assistance. Any of the following government-issued identification cards must be presented upon entry:

  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
  • Health Care Card
  • Seniors Card
  • Disability Card
  • Pensioner Concession Card
  • Companion Card

Community Hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays are for emergency services and healthcare workers who:

  • Can demonstrate they are registered with AHPRA;
  • Have a workplace ID; or
  • Are wearing their work uniform.

Regular customers may proceed with their shopping after Community Hour. Stores have the discretion to extend the time to enable Community Hour shoppers to complete their purchases.

Woolworths

At Woolworths, purchase caps have now been removed on all canned vegetables, tinned tomatoes, canned legumes, oats, long-life milk, serviettes, and baby care items, excluding wipes. This is a significant change from earlier this month when most products had a 2 pack/person limit. Caps at Woolies are constantly being updated, so it’s best to check their website for the latest details before going in to shop.

Aldi’s and IGA

Purchase limits at Aldi‘s seem to still be in place. Currently, there are caps on toilet paper (1 pack/shopper); flour, dry pasta, dry rice, eggs, tissues, and paper towels (2 packs/shopper); sugar, UHT milk, and microwavable rice (6 packs/shopper); and canned food (10 packs/shopper).

Interestingly, IGA maintains that caps are a store-based decision. Explaining that they seek to provide access to essential items for the local communities they serve, IGA stores have imposed limits on items with critically low inventory. The chain recently released a statement saying that limits are being maintained and updated on a store by store basis.

For more details on supermarket item limits, visit Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA‘s websites.

Charity Drives Kick Off In Aspley Just in Time For Christmas

Several institutions in Aspley have started their charity drives just 41 days before Christmas. Residents are being encouraged to share their blessings with those in need. After all, Christmas is the season for caring and sharing.

Foodbank 2017 in Aspley Hypermarket

Foodbank 2017
Credit: Aspley Hypermarket

Foodbank has placed a donation cage outside Coles in Aspley Hypermarket for customers to donate food products. The cage has been in the establishment since 2nd of October and will remain at the location until the 31st of December. Sealed, canned, and dried food products are advised to prevent spoilage. Some suggestions are pasta and pasta sauce, canned beans, rice, sugar, bread spreads, cereal, baby food, and toiletries. All donations are to be distributed to charity and welfare organisations across the country.

More information about the Foodbank 2017 in Aspley Hypermarket can be found here.

Share the Dignity this Christmas


Credit: Share the Dignity YouTube
This year, the designated collection point for the “It’s In A Bag” campaign is at Avenues Early Learning Centre, Aspley at 24a Riordan Street. Donations will be accepted and collected from the 18th of November until the 2nd of December. Residents are advised to remember these dates as everyone will not be able to donate past these schedule.

As always, people are asked to donate products that could make daily life easier for girls battling homelessness and poverty, as well as those adult women at risk and experiencing domestic violence. The products can range from sanitary and maternity pads, tampons, and personal hygiene products like deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste.

Share the Dignity, the institution behind this drive, wants everyone to remember these important points when making the donations:

First of all, choose a handbag in good condition that you no longer use.
Then, fill it with items that would make a woman feel special.
Pop in a thoughtful note or Christmas card and show her someone cares.
Show her that she matters because everyone deserves to feel that way.

To know more about “It’s In A Bag” campaign, click here.

Shop at Aspley Be Uplifted’s OP Shop

Aspley Be Uplifted OP Shop
Credit: Be Uplifted Inc Breast Cancer Facebook

Families can have their Christmas shopping spree at Aspley Be Uplifted Inc’s Op Shop. The shop offers a range of brand name quality clothing for all members of the family, including toddlers and babies. They also have nursery items, secondhand books, and household items. As for gifts, the shop has charming handmade craft creations – quilts, knitwear, candles – made by volunteers.

All sales accumulated from the Aspley Be Uplifted Inc’s Op Shop go out to local breast cancer patients. The money is used for their needs, including support to their families who are enduring the challenge of caring for their suffering loved ones.

The Aspley Be Uplifted Inc Op Shop is open every Wednesday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. It is located at 5/611 Robinson Rd Aspley, behind the Chinese Restaurant.

For more information about shopping at Aspley Be Uplifte’s OP Shop, visit their site.