The first glass-only public place bins have been installed in the shire to assist residents in removing glass from recycling bins.
Glass-only drop-off bins were installed this week at the following locations:
- Gisborne: Sankey Reserve, Aitken Street.
- Lancefield: old court house, Chauncey Street.
- Malmsbury: corner Mollison Street and Ellesmere Place.
- Tylden: community hall, Tylden-Woodend Road.
The glass-only 10m3 skip bins and 240 litre bins will continue to be installed at other locations in the shire including Macedon (JD Clifford Reserve), Riddells Creek (behind the scout hall) and Darraweit Guim (location to be confirmed) in coming weeks.
The bins will provide a convenient and central place for residents to drop off glass after it is removed from household recycling bins.
A number of factors were considered when deciding upon the type of bin in each town and locations. These included public safety, distance to the nearest transfer station, ease of access for the community, and access for collection trucks.
Residents can also drop off glass free of charge to Council's transfer stations in Kyneton, Woodend and Romsey for recycling. As a last resort, glass can be placed in general rubbish bins (red lid).
Council has identified a recycling company which will process the shire's recycling going forward as long as glass is removed from recycling bins (yellow lid). Shards and small pieces of glass can become embedded in paper and cardboard in recycling bins and contaminate the other recyclables.
Council has been working to find innovative solutions to the current recycling crisis, and removing glass from the recycling stream is an important first step. At its Ordinary Council Meeting on 23 October, Council will consider introducing of a fourth glass-only bin service for the shire.
Council currently has a trial underway where 650 residents in Lancefield have been provided with a separate 'glass-only' bin, which is collected monthly.
