Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
when victoria Back in 2020, the state began implementing a four-bin system for household waste with the goal of positioning the state as a leader in recycling.
Then Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the launch of the purple-lidded glass bin – a fourth bin alongside organics, recycling and trash – would be a “game-changing” way to keep glass and other valuable resources out of landfill.
Purple bins were piloted in some areas in 2019, and the statewide rollout is expected to be completed by July 1, 2027.
But as local governments calculate the cost of extra curbside services – especially since the state introduced a container deposit scheme that accepts some glass bottles – concerned councils and residents are starting to question whether four bins are better than three.
“Who has enough space for all these bins?” one person asked on social media. “I’ve had a purple bin for three or four years. I’ve taken it out for collection twice,” said another. “A complete waste of money.”
Victoria announces four bins per household as centerpiece of recycling reform following waste export restrictions and closure of major recycling company SKM Recycle. This reform also launched a container deposit plan in 2023.
So far, 42 of the state’s 79 councils have implemented separate glass recycling services.
Now, as the deadline approaches, a coalition of 35 councils is calling on the state government to suspend the deadline for glass bins and consider alternatives, such as expanding the range of containers accepted under the container deposit scheme.
Manningham is one of them, covering the suburbs of Bulleen and Doncaster in Melbourne’s northeast. The group said it supports efforts to improve glass recycling but worries the additional cost of the service will ultimately be passed on to residents.
Independent research (commissioned by the organization) estimates it could cost the average council $4 million to implement purple bin collections, with annual operating costs of $1.4 million.
Other criticisms include a lack of space for four bins; low uptake of glass services where they have been introduced; and the environmental impact of increased trucking.
Manningham Mayor Jim Grivas said the council wanted to work together to develop solutions. “We ask the state government to listen to our concerns, delay the enforcement date from mid-2027 and expand the container deposit scheme that is already in use,” he said.
Multiple Boards – including BorundaraStonington, Whitehorse, Hume, Cardinia and Campaspe – have voted to delay any rollout, despite this being a legal requirement by the state government.
Why glass in the mix is a problem
According to statistics, Australians produce about 52 kilograms of glass waste per capita every year. National datamost of which come from families.
The national glass recycling rate in 2022-2023 (the latest full year for which data is available) is approximately 61%. South Australia has the highest recovery rate at 73%. Victoria recycled 71%.
Jeff Angell, director of the Center for the Total Environment, said glass has always been an issue for mixed recycling.
“It’s mixed with all the other recyclables, it becomes contaminated on its own, and it also breaks easily – whether that’s when it’s put in a bin or lifted into a collection truck,” he said. “It just shreds, and when it shreds, it permeates other recyclable materials like paper and cardboard.”
Separating glass from other recyclable materials helps reduce contamination and increases recycling rates. But he added that individual bins are not the only solution.
Most container deposit programs accept glass as well as aluminum, plastic and cardboard beverage containers and cartons, but the range of eligible items varies by state and region. Most companies offer a 10 cent rebate per container.
Queensland’s container refund scheme has accepted glass bottles of wine and spirits since 2023, with several other states including Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales planning to follow suit. In Victoria, glass food jars and wine bottles are not eligible.
Angel said the quality of materials returned through the container deposit program is much cleaner, and the refunds provide an extra incentive.
“So it maximizes recycling, it maximizes cleanliness and, as we’re now discovering, it can save millions of dollars in costs for local councils,” he said.
South Australia claims About 11% of glass is placed in curbside bins is recycled into glass containers, compared to 99% of the material returned to the container repository. In Queensland’s container refund scheme, the glass recycling rate is about 88 per cent.
Gail Sloan, CEO waste The Australian Management and Resource Recycling Association says separate glass bins are not needed if kerbside and deposit schemes work well together. “Three dumpsters plus a container deposit give you a comprehensive service.”
Jennifer Macklin, head of circular economy at BehaviorWorks Australia, said enhanced source separation was generally positive, with many councils already successfully introducing new systems, demonstrating that practical challenges such as space, logistics and behavior change were real but manageable.
She said the container deposit scheme has excellent glass recycling options, including color separation, and could be expanded to include glass food products Containers next to beverage bottles.
“This type of expansion, while complex to implement, could completely reduce the need for curbside glass separation while enabling higher recycling rates and outcomes,” she said.
A spokesman for the Victorian Government said the state had invested $129 million to support the council’s rollout, including funding new bins, waste drop-off facilities and supporting education campaigns.
“The Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) has been welcomed by Victorians and complements the rollout of Victoria’s four-stream waste and recycling system. Many items, such as glass bottles and jars, are not suitable for Victoria’s CDS – glass bins allow households to recycle these items conveniently at home.”
Municipal Association of Victoria president Jennifer Anderson said waste collection was one of the most expensive items for local government, so councils wanted to be able to decide what was best for their areas. “(Council) wants it to be the most effective and efficient service on behalf of taxpayers,” she said.
She said the council, which has yet to launch a glass service, wanted to have a “two-way” conversation with the government – about what was best for the planet, the state’s circular economy initiatives and financial sustainability.
They also want to see a business case supporting the state government’s decision.
Angell said it was stubbornness to continue to enforce the rollout of glass bins in Victoria.
“Using the container refund scheme is a no-brainer from an economic and environmental perspective,” he said. “We have spent significant capital investing in new return points, warehouses and reverse vending machines that have the capacity to accommodate more goods or expand easily.”
