Mitchell Shire Council will introduce a new 4-bin kerbside collection service in March 2025, transforming the way residents manage waste at home. This includes the introduction of a new bin for food and garden organics, and a glass recycling bin and will see the general rubbish bin collection change to a fortnightly service.
The four-bin system will see waste separated into mixed recycling, food and garden organics, glass recycling, and general rubbish.
These changes are in line with the State Government's legislation that requires Victorian Council's to provide a four-bin system to all households by 2030.
From March 2025 our kerbside collection will include:
- Food and garden organics (green lid): collected weekly, 120 litre bin
- Mixed recycling (yellow lid): collected fortnightly, 240 litre bin
- General rubbish bin (red lid): collected fortnightly (alternating with the mixed recycling bin), 120 litre bin
- Glass recycling bin (purple lid): collected monthly, 120 litre bin.
This service model has seen the most success in diverting waste from landfill and has been adopted by several councils in Victoria including: the Shire of Strathbogie, City of Greater Shepparton, Shire of Macedon Ranges, Shire of Nillumbik, City of Greater Bendigo, Bass Coast Shire Council, Benalla Rural City Council, and the City of Banyule.
Kerbside waste collected in the general rubbish bin is sent to landfill. Landfill emissions accounts for 75 per cent of Mitchell Shire Council's greenhouse gas emissions.
When food breaks down in landfill it creates methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Recycling food and garden organics is one of the single biggest opportunities for us all to reduce our emissions.
The most recent Mitchell Shire Council kerbside bin audit found the average general rubbish bin contains more than 66 per cent of food and garden organic material. Introducing a food and garden organics bin will remove this material from the general rubbish bin and create more space in the general rubbish bin.
By using a food and garden organics bin, food scraps and garden clippings will be processed into nutrient rich compost that can be returned to our soils, reducing waste to landfill and support a local circular economy. Lawn clippings, leaves and various food items, including dairy, meat bones, can all be accepted in the new food and garden organics bin. Once collected from the kerbside the organic material will be transported to Repurpose It in Epping and turned into valuable compost.
From March 2025 Glass will no longer be accepted in the mixed recycling bin (yellow lid) and instead can be placed in the new glass recycling bin (purple lid) which will be collected monthly. Broken glass in mixed recycling bins makes other items like cardboard, paper, and plastic challenging to recycle. Putting glass bottles and jars in a separate glass recycling bin ensures cleaner streams of materials and better recycling outcomes.
Council provides a compulsory kerbside waste collection service in all major townships and along connector roads within the Shire. Properties not eligible for a kerbside collection service will not be affected by these changes.
Residents will receive detailed information on how to use the new food and garden organics bin and glass recycling bin prior to March 2025. Until then, households should keep using their current kerbside collection system as normal.
Assistance for larger and/or additional bins will be provided for large households (six or more residents) and residents with medical waste.
