Macedon Ranges to remove glass from recycling bins

One of the most common household recyclables is set to be banned from bins in Melbourne's outer north under a drastic plan to combat the state’s recycling crisis.

Glass-only bins could be added to the Macedon Ranges. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Glass recycling skip bins will be installed across the region as Macedon Ranges Council tries to find a solution to Victoria’s recycling crisis.

The council has adopted a plan to remove glass from its mixed recycling bins and to investigate the introduction of a glass-only bin for the area.

Action comes one month after recycling giant SKM was declared insolvent and ordered to stop operations, affecting 32 councils across the state.

Funds were also allocated to cover additional staff and resources, install skip bins in public places and to cover temporary landfill costs.

The decision comes as the council revealed it had identified a company to process the shire’s recycling going forward, as long as the glass was removed from the bins.

The Macedon Ranges will investigate options for a glass only bin.

The Leader understands there are concerns glass and shards could become embedded in paper and contaminate other recyclables.

Mayor Janet Pearce thanked council staff for their work on coming up with“innovative solutions” to the waste crisis.

“We’ll work together with the community going forward to minimise the amount of waste we produce and better manage this,” she said.

“We want to ensure the cost of managing waste and resource recovery is stabilised for our community.”

Residents can also drop off glass free of charge to transfer stations in Kyneton, Woodend and Romsey.

As a last resort, glass can be placed in general rubbish bins.

The council is currently running a glass trial in Lancefield, with 650 residents provided with a “glass-only” bin to be collected monthly.

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Cr Jennifer Anderson told the meeting the Macedon Ranges was helping to solve a statewide issue.

“We’ve got metro councils coming to us for advice,” she said.

“We’re not just saying ‘we’re doing this’. We’re actually saying ‘can we help other people to do this?’”

Long-term options for recycling, including the possibility of a glass-only bin for the whole shire, will be discussed at the October council meeting.