Recycling returns to Golden Plains Shire

KERBSIDE recycling is back in Golden Plains Shire following a deal struck between G21 municipalities and the nation’s largest waste management company, Cleanaway.

Collection will begin on Monday, 16 December, but there are some changes to what can and can’t go into yellow topped bins.

Mayor Owen Sharkey thanked Shire residents for putting up with interim measures while a new deal was worked out.

“This is great news for the Golden Plains Shire community,” he said. “I know many residents were frustrated that recycling was going to landfill, and I appreciate their patience while council worked hard for this regional solution.”

Audits of the old recycling service found that Golden Plains Shire had one of the worst contamination rates in the state.

In the past about 25 per cent of what’s been placed in recycling bins was not recyclable and if similar levels of contamination occur under the new deal with Cleanaway, council and subsequently the Shire’s ratepayers will have to pick up the bill.

“With recycling back on the way, we all need to start getting back into good practice to avoid contamination,” Cr Sharkey said.

“To stop recycling heading to landfill in the future, we need the help of everyone to only put the correct recyclables in yellow lid bins.”

Kerbside recycling going for reprocessing was halted in late July due to the collapse of previous service provider SKM.

Since then all material in yellow domestic recycling bins has been going to landfill.

Along with the Golden Plains Shire, the new deal also includes the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and the Borough of Queenscliffe.

Colac Otway Shire is currently locked into a deal with a different waste management company until September 2020, although a G21 statement said that municipality is continuing to work with the organisation on a “joint recycling campaign.”

As part of the new recycling deal in the Shire there will be some changes to what can and can’t be placed in kerbside recycling bins.

Material that can go into recycling includes clean rigid plastics labelled PET 1,2, 3, 4 and 5 with lids removed, paper and cardboard, steel food and aluminium cans and foil, glass bottles and jars, also without lids, but plastic and metal lids can go in separately.

Things that can’t be placed in yellow recycling bins include anything in a plastic bag, as well as soft plastics, coated cardboards like milk and juice cartons, polystyrene, plastic toys, metal pots and pans, clothing and footwear.

Cr Sharkey said the new arrangement meant there were some differences between the old service and what Cleanaway could accept.

“While glass can remain in the recycling bin, there are some small changes to what can and can’t go in your yellow bin, and I encourage all residents to familiarise themselves with these changes by checking out council’s website,” he said.

For full details on what can and cannot be placed in kerbside recycling, visit thinkrecycle.com.au.