Better Recycling for a Sustainable Future
Published on 06 December 2023
New state government legislation aims to divert up to 80 percent of waste from landfill by 2030. As part of the initial phase, Councils throughout Victoria are introducing a new way to recycle household glass containers.
The Rural City of Wangaratta now has drop-off collection points exclusively for glass at all four of its transfer stations: Wangaratta, Markwood, Moyhu, and Eldorado. Council encourages residents to separate glass from other household recycling, visit your nearest transfer station, and place your glass in the purple bins.
Victoria’s new glass only recycling services reflect the large investments being made into glass reprocessing facilities. Separating glass from other materials reduces contamination and allows glass manufacturers to recycle twice as much glass to create new products. This reduces dependency on new materials, making the most of limited natural resources. Creating a cleaner recycling pathway increases the value of recyclables by as much as $210 million every year.
Residents can earn money for used glass containers through the Victorian Government run Container Deposit Scheme. The Exchange Depot Wangaratta at 74 Newman Street, is suitable for bulk drop offs and will reward consumers with a 10-cent refund for every eligible glass container that they return. People cashing in their containers can either claim the refund themselves or donate it to a charity or community group. The Rural City of Wangaratta is not involved in the facilitation or management of this scheme.
Councillor Jack Herry is supportive of the changes:
"A small change in our behaviour will have significant results in enhancing our recycling efforts. By returning these containers, we actively participate in the cycle of sustainability, ensuring that they are recycled and repurposed into new drink containers and useful products. Together, we pave the way for a circular economy, where every contribution makes a lasting impact on the environment." He said.
What does it cost?
Dropping off glass at Council’s transfer stations is free.
What type of glass is accepted?
Glass jars (empty, no lids)
Pasta sauce, jam, condiments, etc.
Glass bottles, including broken bottles (empty, no lids)
Wine bottles
Beer bottles
Alcohol bottles
Olive oil and sauce bottles
What type of glass is not accepted?
Drinking glasses
Broken windows and windows
Light bulbs
Vases
Perfume or makeup containers
Lids, corks, or bottle tops
What should I do before attending transfer stations?
Make sure all jars and bottles are empty and clean
Remove lids from all jars and bottles
Place metal lids in the yellow-lid recycling bin
For more information, please visit the Waste & Recycling page of our website. For more information on Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme please visit the CDS Victoria website.