Borough joins push to delay mandatory glass bin

THE Borough of Queenscliffe will join a growing coalition of Victorian councils opposing the state’s proposed four-bin waste system, aligning itself with the neighbouring City of Greater Geelong.

At its meeting last week, the council resolved to join more than 30 other municipalities in calling for a delay to the mandated rollout of a standalone, purple-lidded glass recycling bin, which under current state planning is expected to be required by 1 July, 2027.

Council officers estimate the change would increase household waste changes by almost $80 per property in the first year of operation, before settling at about $28 per year.

The borough would also need to find roughly $150,000 to implement the service, with state funding expected to cover less than 10 per cent of that cost.

Deputy mayor Di Rule questioned the need for a fourth bin, particularly in light of the Container Deposit Scheme, introduced in November 2023, arguing the existing scheme should be strengthened instead.

“Unlike other states, Victoria has not included wine and spirit bottles as eligible containers,” she said. “Bit of an oversight.”

Referring to the cost burden on ratepayers and the low usage rates reported by councils that have introduced the glass recycling service, Cr Rule was blunt.

“In my view, it’s a no-brainer that we join this [advocacy] group and we try to stop this idiocy taking place,” she said.