By Jessica Micallef
All Victorian households are set to receive a fourth bin to dispose of glass under a new state government recycling scheme.
The plan is in a bid to help reduce waste going to landfill by about 80 per cent in 10 years.
The state government will provide $129 million towards the Recycling Victoria scheme. However, it remains unknown if councils, residents or the government will foot the bill for the new bins.
Macedon Ranges council recently introduced its own four bin recycling initiative, with a food organics and garden organics (FOGO) bin and a glass-only bin added to households last month. The state
government announced the new recycling scheme last week.
A statement released by the state government said collecting glass separately would ensure it is “effectively recycled” – with jars and bottles transformed multiple times into different products, including new roads and footpaths.
It also stated a separate glass collection would make recovery for other recyclables like plastic, metal and paper “simpler”, with the food and organic bin “significantly” reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.
The rollout of the new bins is expected to start next year and happen gradually throughout local government areas, depending on community needs and existing council contracts.
There will also be special arrangements for remote regional households and residents in apartments to ensure everyone gets access to the new four-bin system.
Hume council’s sustainable infrastructure and services director Peter Waite said the council is receiving information regarding the state government’s announcement.
“Hume City Council welcomes any move towards improved recycling and waste processes and regulation,” he said.
“We look forward to receiving more information from the state government.”
The state government’s Recycling Victoria scheme will also include the introduction of a container deposit scheme, expected to begin in 2023.
