The Victorian Government is one step closer to a comprehensive four bin recycling system, with $127 million available to support all 79 Victorian councils to buy new bins, improve drop-off facilities, deliver education campaigns and ensure that they have the infrastructure in place to roll out these reforms.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio announced the funding today to support Victorian councils to transition to the new statewide household waste and recycling system including delivering a new purple bin to households for separate glass recycling.

Glass, when mixed with other recyclable materials, shatters and contaminates valuable, easy to recycle materials such as paper and cardboard. This reduces the quality of these materials and their ability to be recycled. By separating glass effectively, more materials from the comingled bin can also be recycled.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said that local councils in Eastern Victoria will share in more than $86 million to deliver the new four bin services with standardised bin-lid colours, making it easier for Victorians to recycle.  This funding will ensure that all Victorian households have access to a consistent four bin waste and recycling service.

An additional $40.9 million will support councils, business and communities maximise recycling, creating new jobs and supporting local manufacturing. The recycling sector creates 9.2 jobs for every 10,000 tonnes of waste recycled, compared to 2.8 jobs for the same volume sent to landfill.

This funding will make sure the local community is ready for these reforms, with improved drop off facilities at resource recovery centres to collect food organics, garden organics and glass.

In partnership with councils the Victorian Government will deliver a reliable and consistent statewide recycling system through better household recycling, improved infrastructure, and stronger industry regulation.

The Victorian Government has provided $515 million to deliver the biggest transformation and reform of Victoria’s waste and recycling system in our states history. For more information vic.gov.au/recycling.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing:

“These changes to the way we collect, sort and recycle household waste will make a huge difference to the efficiency and volume of the recycling process, and our councils will be a key part of rolling out these reforms in every corner of the state.” 

“By collecting glass separately, we can make sure more of it is effectively recycled – with jars and bottles being able to be transformed many times over into different products.”

“We know that communities across Eastern Victoria are increasingly passionate about reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, and that families are already doing a lot to reduce the amount of waste they generate. This funding is a really important part of reducing and reusing more of what ends up in our bins, and although it will require some adjustment in the way we use our bin system, it will have an enormously positive impact.”