Macedon Ranges Council is calling on the state government to cover the full cost of its kerbside glass collection set-up.
February marked two years since the council introduced its four-bin recycling system, ahead of announcements for state-wide change.
Now a new purple-lidded glass recycling bin/service is expected to be introduced across Victoria by 2027.
The Victorian Government is also introducing a state-wide container deposit scheme by 2023 and a new standard food and garden organics bin/service by 2030.
Last week councillors voted unanimously to seek full set-up funds “given that the Container Deposit Scheme is being introduced in 2023”. They will also request that fellow early-adopters of the glass collection scheme have their costs reimbursed.
MRSC’s director of assets and operations Shane Walden said the full cost associated with the glass collection rollout alone in the Ranges was $1,012,000. This included the purchase and delivery of glass bin infrastructure across the community.
While the council received a state government grant of $68,000 to assist, the council was left with a $944,000 bill.
A government spokesperson told the Express last week the state government was “working closely with councils, including the Macedon Ranges Shire Council, on the four-bin recycling system”.
“The new system will help the state meet its goal of diverting 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030.
“We’ve provided grants to councils, including the Macedon Ranges Shire Council, to help with the transition to the new household waste and recycling system.
“The new standardised kerbside system is part of a $515 million investment to transform the waste and recycling sector.”
Macedon Ranges Council has already seen many of the benefits of the four-bin system.
“Introduction of the four-bin system has lifted the diversion from landfill from 39 per cent to 75 per cent, one of the highest diversion rates in the state,” Mr Walden told the Express.
“Not to mention the high value of the co-mingled material now collected without glass. The glass is currently crushed for reuse in road and footpath construction replacing quarried materials.”
Kerbside glass collection will run alongside the Container Deposit Scheme.
To prepare for the scheme, the state government says is running a competitive tender process to appoint qualified organisations to run Victoria’s CDS.
Once appointed, the scheme coordinator and one or more network operators will work with stakeholders, including the Macedon Ranges Shire Council, to meet needs and expectations.
Network operators will run refund collection points across the state, including reverse vending machines, depots, over the counter, pop-ups and drop-off points.
Subject to consultation, the Express understands the state government expects to have a minimum of one collection point per 14,500 people in metropolitan areas, at least one per town of 750 people in regional areas, including in the Macedon Ranges, and at least one per town of 350 people in remote areas.
