Victoria will have a container deposit scheme and households will get a new fourth bin, as part of a plan to reduce waste going to landfill by 80 per cent in ten years with a massive overhaul of the state’s waste and recycling system by the Andrews Labor Government.
With widespread disruption to global recycling markets, Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio today announced the first in a suite of new policies under the Recycling Victoria package, designed to position Victoria as a leader in reusing, reducing and recycling waste.
The $129 million of initiatives announced today to reform kerbside recycling includes the roll out of four colour-coded bins to homes across the state to better sort waste, recyclables and organics:
- glass recycling – purple lid
- food and garden organics – green lid
- plastic, metal and paper recycling – yellow lid
- household waste – red lid
By collecting glass separately, we can make sure more of it is effectively recycled – with jars and bottles transformed multiple times into multiple different products, including new roads and footpaths.
Separate glass collection will also make recovery of other recyclables – like plastic, metal and paper – simpler, with the food and organic bin significantly reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.
The rollout of the new bins will start next year and happen gradually – informed by the needs of local communities and existing council contracts. There will also be special arrangements for remote regional households and people in apartments, to ensure everyone gets access to the new four-bin system.
To complement this new household recycling system, the Labor Government will also introduce a container deposit scheme – reducing litter and waste going into landfill, and creating new Victorian jobs.
The Labor Government will design and deliver the scheme in close consultation with councils and industry so it can begin by 2023.
We will also make waste collection an essential service – ensuring a basic standard of service for Victorians, wherever they live – and establish a new dedicated authority to better govern our recycling system and hold waste service providers to account.
An education and behaviour change campaign will support the rollout of the initiatives. It will target households, businesses, councils, community groups and charities – helping them transition to the new system.
“This transformation will position Victoria as a national leader in recycling. Most importantly, it will deliver a system that Victorians can actually rely on.”
—Premier Daniel Andrews
“This represents a holistic approach to reducing, reusing and recycling our state’s waste. That’s good news for Victoria’s environment and good news for Victorian jobs.”
—Premier Daniel Andrews
“We know Victorians want to be able to do more to recycle household waste – this new system will make it easier for all of us to do our bit.”