Audit & videos encourage Ranges residents to continue recycling right

Audit & videos encourage Ranges residents to continue recycling right

Last updated on 09 January 2025

A shire-wide audit of kerbside bins revealed that Macedon Ranges residents perform well in using green and yellow-lidded bins, but have room for improvement in sorting waste for red-lidded bins.

The independent review examined bins from 375 randomly selected properties, analysing 125 bins from each waste stream (excluding glass). In total, four tonnes – or 50,000 litres – of organics, recycling, and landfill materials were assessed for weight and contamination (items placed in the wrong bin).

The audit found:

Each household produced an average of 5.97kg (55.05L) of rubbish/general waste (red lid bins) per week. The contamination rate was 17.2 per cent by weight (31.5 per cent by volume), with recyclable and FOGO items found to be the main contaminants in bins.  Each household produced an average of 3.1kg (80.4L) of recycling per week (yellow lid bins). The contamination rate was 25 per cent by weight (13.8 per cent by volume), with landfill items found to be the main contaminant in recycling bins. Each household produced an average of 13.9kg (126.4L) of mixed organics per week (green lid bins). The contamination rate was 2.5 per cent by weight (4 per cent by volume). Food waste in non-compostable packaging was found to be the main contaminant.

Preventing reusable materials from going to landfill is the central focus of Council’s Waste and Resource Recovery Management Strategy 2021-2026.

The audit results coincide with the upcoming five-year anniversary of the shire-wide four-bin system, which made the Macedon Ranges one of the first councils in Victoria to adopt this approach.  Waste management consistently tops positive resident sentiments in annual Community Satisfaction Survey benchmarking.

Mayor Dom Bonanno said since the four-bin system’s implementation, the willingness of residents to recycle right has helped to divert more than 70,000 tonnes of waste from landfill.

“The war on waste is an ongoing, collaborative effort and while the audit shows there is still room for improvement, I am extremely proud of the efforts of Council and residents over the past five years in particular that have already made a huge impact,” he said.

“We encourage residents to continue recycling right and we will continue to provide support through ongoing education campaigns, and by implementing innovative resource recovery initiatives.”

To support ongoing education around the types of materials that go in each bin, Council has developed a new suite of engaging and educational videos, elaborating on the journey of different waste and recycling streams once they leave the house.

Visit Council's Your bins web page to view the videos and learn more about correct items for each bin.