The Victorian government is rolling out purple-lidded recycling bins for glass materials to transform how Victorians recycle and divert tonnes of waste from landfills.
The initiative will enable Victorian councils to re-manufacture more glass into new products and reuse more materials from the yellow mixed recycling bin by reducing glass contamination.
Acting Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio visited the City of Merri-bek on 14 May to launch the bins across the municipality, which is expected to be completed by July.
The launch of the new bins will work alongside Victoria’s new container deposit scheme, Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) Vic, which commences on 1 November.
The Victorian Labor government recently invested $129 million to buy new bins for all Victorian councils, improve drop-off facilities, deliver education campaigns, and ensure they have the infrastructure in place to roll out the reforms.
The four-stream recycling system was launched by the Andrews Labor government as a key part of its waste and recycling reforms and are aimed at diverting 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030, including 20,0000 tonnes of glass.
“The four-stream recycling system will work alongside our new Container Deposit Scheme to make it easier than ever for Victorians to recycle their glass so that it can be turned into new products,” said Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.
Merri-bek is set to become the 13th early-mover council to complete the rollout of its kerbside glass service, joining Ararat, Whittlesea, Colac Otway, Hobsons Bay, Horsham, Macedon Ranges, Moyne, Pyrenees, Surf Coast, Warrnambool, City of Yarra and Yarriambiack.
“We’re proud to be a leader in sustainability and early adopter of the 4-stream waste service, and this funding will help us ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for our community,” Merri-bek Mayor Angelica Panopoulos.
The Victorian government recently announced up to $515 million in investments to deliver the biggest-ever transformation of the waste and recycling sector in the state’s history. This includes $380 million in funding to establish the “Recycling Victoria: a new economy” economic policy, which seeks to further reduce waste, boost jobs, and establish a recycling system for Victorians.
The reforms are expected to create nearly 4,000 new jobs in Victoria and contribute up to $6.7 billion to the state’s economy by 2030.
