Local residents expected to bring glass waste to the drop-off points

Loading

70 percent of the total amount of glass collected during the trial was collected from the municipal bins.

“Port Phillip is a high-density community and one where many properties just can’t accommodate a four-bin system,” Cunsolo said.

“Our glass trial showed that providing a third bin for glass recycling was not a cost-effective option for our community.”

Port Phillip Council plans to open 80 drop-off points over the next six months.

The majority of residents in the Merri-bek township area in suburbs such as Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner, Glenroy, Oak Park and Pascoe Vale will receive their purple-topped jar containers in April and May, with the community beginning monthly jar collection beginning May 1. July.

But about 1,700 households may need to use drop-off points instead of shared or individual purple bins, the council said. These residents will be informed from April.

Merri-bek Mayor Angelica Panopoulos said the council plans to set up glass drop-off points in 11 different residential areas.

“We recognize that not all properties have room for a glass recycling bin,” Panopoulos said.

“In order to provide access to the four-stream waste service, some residents living in higher-density buildings share trash cans, and some must take their glass to a municipal drop-off point in their district.”

Broken glass is among the top contaminants in the recycling stream, according to a report by Infrastructure Victoria. Glass thrown in the same bin as paper, cardboard and plastic can contaminate an entire recycling load. The broken glass not only renders other materials unusable, but also interferes with machines.

Suzanne Toumbourou, chief executive of the Australian Council of Recycling, said finding the perfect balance between creating good recycling collection points and ensuring different waste items are properly segregated is often a struggle.

“I want to encourage councils to do their best to support separation at source in a way that is harmonized across the state,” she said.

“People don’t want to waste … they want to support recycling schemes, so it will also be up to municipalities to make sure good access is available.”

Greg Ferrington, director of the Disability Resources Center, said some people with disabilities find using municipal glass drop-off points particularly difficult.

Loading

“If your tram line doesn’t go near this municipal stop, that’s the first issue that comes to mind,” he said.

Ferrington said without more accessible options, people with disabilities have little choice but to contaminate their waste streams.

The state government will introduce its container deposit system before the end of this year. Under the scheme, Victorians will receive a 10 cent refund on eligible glass bottles and cans and cartons.

With Ashleigh McMillan

The Morning Edition Newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.