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Leading the way in agricultural plastic recycling

bagMUSTER is Australia’s first not-for-profit, industry-led collection and recycling program for soft plastic agricultural input bags. Spearheaded by CropLife Australia and its not-for-profit subsidiary Agsafe, in collaboration with the Australian Seed Federation, the program provides a sustainable solution for collecting and recycling single-use polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) bags used for fertilisers, seeds, grain, stock feed, and pet food.

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100% of collected bags are recycled in Australia, reinforcing bagMUSTER’s commitment to local, sustainable recycling solutions that reduce waste and contribute to the circular economy.

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Why bagMUSTER matters

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The opportunity

 

45,000 tonnes of soft plastic is used in Australian agriculture annually, yet only 12% is currently recycled in Australia. bagMUSTER is designed to fill this critical gap, ensuring agricultural plastic bags are collected and processed responsibly.

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The process

 

Collected bags are transported to approved recyclers in Australia, where they are processed using mechanical and advanced recycling technologies to create new plastic products, reducing reliance on virgin plastic.

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The funding model

 

Bag manufacturers, suppliers, and importers enter into a fee-for-service agreement with bagMUSTER, ensuring the program remains industry-funded and sustainable long-term.

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Why join?

 

Even if bagMUSTER isn’t operating in your area yet, demand will drive future expansion. By signing up, you help influence the rollout strategy and ensure your region is prioritised for future collection sites.

Program rollout

Where we are and where we’re going

 

Phase 1 – Victoria

 

The program launched in early 2025 with more than 25 collection sites currently open in Western Victoria, including Mildura, Swan Hill, Newbridge, Kyneton, Romsey, Woodend, Drysdale and more.

 

Phase 2 – New South Wales

 

Building on Victoria’s foundation, bagMUSTER will expand across NSW.

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Phase 3 – Queensland & South Australia

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A simultaneous rollout will ensure farmers in these key agricultural regions have access to the program.

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Future national expansion

 

The national rollout will establish hundreds of collection sites across Australia, dependent on infrastructure and funding availability. Targeted government investment would help accelerate this expansion and support the Australian Government’s circular economy goals by 2030.

How the recycling process works

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Farmers purchase eligible PP and PE bags from participating retailers.

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Used bags are collected at bagMUSTER sites, often co-located with drumMUSTER collection points to streamline farm waste disposal.

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Bags are transported to Australian recyclers, ensuring 100% of material is processed locally.

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Recycling technologies turn plastic waste into new products, including fence posts, planter boxes, pipes, and other durable items.

Join the movement

Drive demand for collection in your area

 

​bagMUSTER is already delivering real sustainability outcomes for Australian agriculture, but the program’s growth depends on industry participation. Even if collection isn’t yet available in your region, joining now helps drive expansion and ensures your area is prioritised.

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Farmers & growers

Start collecting eligible bags today!

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Retailers & manufacturers

Sign up as a bagMUSTER partner to support sustainability and meet industry expectations.

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Industry & Government partners

Help scale the program to ensure long-term success.

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Our commitment

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Our mission is to establish a nationally sustainable, industry-led product stewardship program that aligns with the Australian Government’s Accredited Product Stewardship Scheme, ISO 9001 Accreditation, and the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines (SPGs). bagMUSTER will provide transparent program statistics on plastic collection and recycling outcomes to support internal reporting requirements for end-of-life product management.

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Additionally, growers delivering eligible bags to bagMUSTER collection sites will receive certificates, aiding compliance with QA programs, food safety standards, and Best Management Programs. For partners, bagMUSTER offers branding and marketing opportunities, allowing participants to showcase their commitment to reducing plastic waste and supporting sustainability in Australian agriculture.

 

This commitment to transparent reporting and regulatory alignment ensures that participants meet both environmental and operational standards, strengthening their sustainability profiles.

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bagMUSTER is a CropLife initiative established in collaboration with the Australian Seed Federation. It is dedicated to the responsible disposal of agricultural single-use plastic bags, aiming to reduce their environmental impact and further advance sustainable practices within the agricultural sector.

© 2024 bagMUSTER®. All rights reserved.

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