Councils call for smarter alternatives to glass-only kerbside bins

Published on 27 April 2026

Gannawarra Shire Council has joined other municipalities in calling on the State Government to extend the deadline for the rollout of kerbside glass collection services across Victoria.

Council recently joined the Glass Advocacy Group, an alliance of more than 30 councils located across Victoria advocating for practical and cost-effective alternatives to the mandatory glass-only kerbside bin rollout occurring as part of the State Government’s kerbside waste collection reforms.

The group is calling on the State Government to delay the implementation of the standalone kerbside glass recycling service until the national standardisation of kerbside services and container deposit schemes has occurred.

“For many years, residents have recycled household glass items, such as jars and wine and spirits bottles, by placing these items in our yellow-lidded kerbside bins and at purple skip bins located at our transfer stations and the Koondrook depot,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.

“Financial modelling shows that introducing a separate kerbside glass service would increase costs for Council and residents, while operational and regulatory uncertainties add further risk.”

As part of the campaign, the group is calling for the State Government to look at alternatives to introducing the standalone kerbside glass recycling service, including expanding the popular container deposit scheme to accept wine and spirits bottles to bring the program in line with similar initiatives occurring in other states.

“Residents can already collect 10 cents per glass soft drink and some alcohol bottles via the container deposit scheme. Expanding the service to enable wine and spirits bottles to be recycled via this service will be more cost effective compared to the standalone kerbside glass recycling service,” Mr Rollinson said.

“Other options, including enhancing our current glass drop-off facilities and implementing community education campaigns are more practical, cost-effective, and sustainable approaches to managing glass recycling in the Gannawarra.

“Council looks forward to working with all councils that are a part of the Glass Advocacy Group to seek solutions that are cost effective and benefit residents.”