Important changes are coming to recycling and rubbish bins in Baw Baw.

Published on 30 April 2024

From midyear, Baw Baw Shire residents with a Council kerbside residential waste collection service will begin receiving new 120L purple-lidded recycling bins (in addition to their current bins) specifically for glass recycling, in readiness for a new dedicated four-weekly collection service set to commence in October.

The new residential bin is an outcome of a Victorian Government 10-year action plan released in 2020, Recycling Victoria: A new economy, which aims to move Victoria towards a circular economy and become more resilient to market shocks in the waste and recycling industry.

By separating the glass from other recyclable materials, the new purple-lidded glass recycling bin will broaden the range of disposal options to ensure efficient management of our waste while also minimising our impact on the natural environment.

Currently, glass collected in the yellow mixed recycling bins often becomes a significant contaminant. When glass breaks the fragments stick to other materials, particularly paper and cardboard. That contamination means that otherwise recyclable materials end up in landfill. Properly separated, however, glass can be recycled for a whole variety of uses, including new glass jars and even footpaths and roads.

The new purple-lidded bins will be collected every four weeks, with the first collection to take place in October. The change means that, starting in September, instead of putting your glass bottles and jars into the yellow-lidded mixed recycling bin like you do now you will be required to put them into the new purple-lidded bin, ready for your first collection in October. The rest of your recycling will still go into your yellow-lidded bin just as it does now. Please remember that items should be placed in your purple-lidded bin and yellow lidded bin loose, not in plastic bags and with no soft plastics.

Glass recycling is the first part of a wider waste service transition in Baw Baw Shire that will eventually also include a combined food organics and garden organics (FOGO) service, expected to launch in 2026.

Residents will be kept fully informed about the impending changes to waste services as the implementation nears, with updates to be distributed via direct mail, online, in the local media and via the recently released Baw Baw Waste App – available now for free download for both Apple and Android devices (www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/WasteApp).

"The planned introduction of a new glass recycling service from October 2024 marks a significant step in Baw Baw Shire Council's commitment to sustainable waste management,” said Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Cr Annemarie McCabe.

“This initiative propels us towards a circular economy, enhancing our resilience against market fluctuations in the recycling sector. It also paves the way for further enhancements in waste services, including the anticipated Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) service in 2026. Watch this space!”

For more information about the new glass recycling bin set to launch in October, visit https://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/glassrecycling.