The way you recycle at home is changing for the better – a small act makes a big impact.
Golden Plains Shire Council is gearing up to introduce a new household waste and recycling system that will improve the way residents recycle at home.
Under Victorian Government legislation, all Councils must move to a standard four-bin system: red for general rubbish, yellow for mixed recycling, purple for glass and lime green for combined food and garden organics.
In line with the changes, Council is commencing with the introduction of a new separate purple glass bin in 2025. At the same time of the introduction of the new purple bin, the frequency of collection for the yellow recycling bin will change from weekly to fortnightly.
Golden Plains Shire residents will soon need to separate their waste and recycling into three streams:
- Glass
- Mixed recyclables
- General waste
Council waste data shows that around 15 per cent of the community’s mixed recycling is made up of glass bottles and jars. By putting glass bottles and jars in a separate bin, more of them can be recycled into new things and quality of other recyclables will be improved.
Council plans to commence the new glass purple bin service for glass only in early 2025. Until then, households should keep using the current waste and recycling system as normal.
Golden Plains Shire Council Mayor Cr Brett Cunningham said the introduction of the new glass purple bin would help improve recycling outcomes and divert waste from landfill.
“Council is committed to improving and enhancing its waste practices and keeping glass separate has been shown to improve the quality of other recyclable materials. This helps create a more environmentally responsible collection service for our Golden Plains Shire community,” Cr Cunningham said.
Council is in the early stages of planning and in the coming months will provide more information to residents on how to use their new purple bin at the time of the rollout.
Community survey
Council conducted a pulse-check community survey in March 2024 and will continue to engage with the community throughout the rollout of the glass recycling service.
The survey results indicated the community had good knowledge of Council’s waste and recycling services, however there were opportunities to improve information sharing through printed and online communication channels.
There will be additional information about the glass recycling service available to all residents in late 2024, as well as an educational campaign throughout local schools.
More information about waste collection
Some containers are also eligible for a 10c refund at participating Container Deposit Scheme locations, to find out the eligibility and refund points please visit: Container Deposit Scheme - Victoria | Golden Plains Shire Council.
Council is also planning for the introduction of the new lime green Food Organics Green Organics (FOGO) bin to align with timings for the Barwon Water Regional Renewable Organics Network (RRON) facility expected to become operational in 2026.
For more information, please visit: The Regional Renewable Organics Network at Black Rock | Your Say Barwon Water.
The new glass bin service aligns with the Victoria Government's mandate for a standardized four-bin waste and recycling kerbside system. This system includes separate bins for general waste, mixed recycling, glass (no later than by 2027), and food and garden organics (no later than by 2030).
The implementation of this four-stream recycling system aims to achieve the goal of diverting 80% of all materials away from landfill by 2030.
Council waste data shows that around 15% of the community’s mixed recycling is made up of glass bottles and jars. By putting glass bottles and jars in a separate bin more of them can be recycled into new things and quality of other recyclables will be improved.
The new glass bins will be delivered across December 2024 and January 2025.
The new glass purple bin service for glass is scheduled to start in February 2025. Until then, households should keep using the current waste and recycling system as normal.
Your glass recycling bin will be collected every four weeks. A collection calendar will be delivered together with your new bin.
A 140 Litre glass bin will be the standard size delivered to households.
The bin size was chosen based on several factors:
- Council took into consideration the benchmark set by other Councils that have already implemented glass bins.
- Considering the rural nature of the shire, we opted for a 140L bin as it provides sturdiness and stability on uneven surfaces.
- The collection contractor has advised that a larger bin would be more suitable during collection to prevent overflowing and potential spillage of glass.
Accepted items: All glass bottles and jars that are commonly used in the household will need to be placed inside the glass bin.
Remove all lids before placing them in your glass recycling bin. Plastic lids larger than a credit card and metal lids can be recycled in the yellow-lid recycling bin. All other lids should be disposed of in the general waste bin.
Not accepted items: Drinking glass, Pyrex, ceramics and light bulbs.
Council is developing waste education materials that will be delivered to you along with your new bin and will also be made available on this website closer to the start of the service. These materials will outline the specific items that can and cannot be placed in the glass-only bin, ensuring proper waste disposal and recycling practices.
The collection frequency of the general waste bin will remain the same: fortnightly.
The collection frequency of the recycling bin will change from weekly to fortnightly.
- This is to align with the standard service provided by all other Councils in Victoria (recycling bins are 240L, collected every fortnight). Golden Plains Shire Council is the only Council in Victoria that currently provides a weekly commingled recycling collection in a 240L bin.
- The presentation rate (how many properties are placing their recycling bins out every week) is around 60%. This means there is opportunity to improve the efficiency of commingled recycling collection services to better meet the needs of community.
If a resident finds that they need extra capacity for the recycling material:
- Best practice is to place all cardboard flat inside the bin.
- Place all items loose.
- Residents can apply for an additional recycling bin service for an additional fee.
The Victorian Government is standardising household waste and recycling services across the state.
As part of this standardisation, the bin lid colours will need to be consistent across all councils:
- Red for general waste
- Yellow for mixed recycling
- Purple for glass
- Lime green for Food Organics Green Organics (FOGO).
All new general waste bins delivered to residents have red lids. However, some properties might have a general waste bin with a dark green lid or a maroon lid, as these were the previously acceptable colours for general waste.
Existing general waste bins with a dark green or a maroon lid can continue to be used for general waste.
The waste management charge for FY24/25 is $447.00. This is an increase of $20.00 (4.68%) from FY23/24.
The cost for an additional service for FY24/25 is $223.50 per bin.
Golden Plains Shire Council is partnering with Barwon Water and other five local councils in the Regional Renewable Organics Network (RRON) project, which involves the construction of an organics processing facility.
The introduction of FOGO bins will align with the operational start of the RRON facility, which is anticipated to take place in 2026.
For further details and updates on this project, we encourage you to visit The Regional Renewable Organics Network at Black Rock | Your Say Barwon Water.
The Introduction of the CDS Vic has no impact on the way you can use your recycling bins at home. You may choose to take eligible containers to a refund point, but there is no obligation to do so.
Glass containers that are eligible for a refund in the CDS are those that are most found as litter in our streets, beaches, waterways and parks across Victoria. They are the type of beverage containers you might consume ‘on the go’ when you are outside, or away from home. Victoria‘s Container Deposit Scheme | Find Eligible Containers (cdsvic.org.au)
The containers that aren’t accepted contain products most commonly used in the home.
While residents can now also recycle some glass bottles through Victoria’s new Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), the kerbside glass recycling service will provide an avenue to recycle glass jars and larger glass bottles not accepted through the scheme, creating a comprehensive and effective approach to recycling and sustainability.
To find out the eligibility and refund points under the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) please visit Container Deposit Scheme - Victoria | Golden Plains Shire Council