Aussie councils opposing a statewide bin change say they’ve spoken to thousands of residents, and most agree they don’t want a fourth household bin.
Victorians are just over a year away from a contentious bin change, which introduces purple-lid glass recycling bins by July 2027.
For years now, a number of councils across Victoria have made it clear they are unhappy with the state government‘s mandate and have been pushing back and arguing there’s a cheaper fix already in plain sight.
35 councils have since led a recent statewide survey to ask Victorians how they felt about the new glass-only recycling bins.
According to Whitehorse City Council, a major commercial and residential municipality in Melbourne’s east, it said results suggested an “overwhelming opposition” to the proposed bin change, “with 83% of respondents against its introduction”.
“Nearly 25,000 Victorians have spoken, and the message is loud and clear: they don’t want a costly fourth bin for glass recycling,” a statement from the council reads.
What is the cheaper fix councils suggest?
Manningham Council Mayor Jim Grivas has spoken on behalf of the councils and argued there was “a better, cheaper way” to recycle glass.
“This is a costly policy that will hit households year after year, at a time when people are already under pressure,” Grivas said.
Instead of the purple bin, Grivas has previously urged the government to expand the state’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) to include wine and spirit bottles.
A fourth purple bin has stirred up controversy in Victoria ahead of a mandate in July next year. Source: Frankston Council/Yahoo News Australia
And according to the recent survey, 91% support expanding the Container Deposit Scheme to include glass wine and spirit bottles, Whitehorse City Council shared.
“In the City of Whitehorse the local sentiment mirrors what people are saying across Victoria.
“More than 1,000 Whitehorse residents had their say, with 91% against adding the glass-only bin, and 92% wanting the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) to start taking glass wine and spirit bottles,” the statement reads.
Do you have a story on rubbish bins in your area? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
RELATED:
The councils say independent modelling in 2025 estimated a glass-only kerbside system would cost councils around $4 million to establish, and households would face an extra $27 a year charge.
Considering the “strong community opposition and significant cost,” councils are urging the state government to reconsider its July 2027 deadline, and are calling for a “practical” and “cost-effective solution.”
“Our residents have told us they don’t have enough glass to justify a separate bin, many don’t have space on their property to store a fourth bin, and they don’t want the extra trucks and collections,” Whitehorse Mayor Kirsten Langford said.
“The solution is clear. Listen to what residents are saying and expand the Container Deposit Scheme.”
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.