All south-west households look set to get a fourth rubbish bin after the state government today announced a $129 million plan to tackle the recycling crisis.
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In January, Moyne residents became the first in the south-west to receive a glass-only bins, and Warrnambool is in the middle of trialling the introduction of the fourth bin.
But Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday announced the state would roll out a new fourth bin, and a container deposit scheme, as part of its plan to reduce waste going to landfill by 80 per cent in 10 years.
Just how the decision will impact on the trial currently under way in Warrnambool and how a full rollout would be funded is unclear.
However, households that were not part of the trial could now expect to see a fourth bin delivered to their home by next year.
Warrnambool City Council chief executive officer Peter Schneider said it was grateful that the government had listened to the information provided the council and other organisations at the parliamentary inquiry into recycling and waste.
"We keenly await further detail regarding today's announcement of the statewide container deposit scheme and kerbside glass collections," he said.
The $129 million of initiatives tincludes the roll out of four colour-coded bins to homes across the state to better sort waste, recyclables and organics: a purple-lidded glass-only recycling bin, green-lidded FOGO bin, a yellow-lidded bin for plastic, metal and paper recycling as well as the red-lidded bin for household waste.
The government said that by collecting glass separately, it could be recycled more effectively with jars and bottles transformed multiple times into multiple different products, including new roads and footpaths.
The rollout of the new bins would start next year.
A container deposit scheme would begin by 2023.
Mr Andrews said it would position Victoria as a national leader in recycling. "This represents a holistic approach to reducing, reusing and recycling our state's waste," he said.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio said Victorians wanted to be able to do more to recycle household waste.
"This new system will make it easier for all of us to do our bit," she said.
It will be critical to provide councils with funding and implementation support .
- Cr Ruth Gstrein
MAV rural deputy president and Corangamite Shire Cr Ruth Gstrein said the association welcomed the announcement and would work with the state on the design of the scheme to ensure best outcomes for communities and councils.
"We look forward to more information on how this funding will be allocated, noting that service models will need to be tailored to meet different community needs," she said.
"It will be critical to provide councils with funding and implementation support as well as timeframes that enable appropriate infrastructure to be put in place."
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