Kerbside recycling will resume across the region from Monday 16 December,
after G21 councils signed a landmark agreement with Cleanaway this week.
Cleanaway will take over the processing of the region’s kerbside
collected recyclable materials – including paper, glass, metals and plastics.
As part of the agreement, all parties have committed to developing
innovative local uses for recyclables collected, with an aim to expand the circular economy within the region.
Cleanaway agreed to work with the councils to identify local secondary
markets to maximise the sustainable re-use of recyclables, with an initial
focus on the re-use of glass.
Councils are calling on residents to do their best to put the right
thing in their yellow lid bin, to avoid contaminated recycling going to
landfill. Plus, the agreement includes discounts for councils with low
contamination rates.
Municipal kerbside recycling for the City of Greater Geelong, Surf
Coast Shire Council, Golden Plains Shire and the Borough of Queenscliffe will
resume the week starting Monday 16 December.
Colac Otway Shire has an
agreement with another processor until September 2020 however is continuing to
work with the G21 councils on a joint recycling campaign.
Surf Coast Shire Council has committed to introducing a fourth kerbside
bin for all residents in April next year to separate out glass.
There
are some minor changes to what can and can’t go in the yellow lid bin.
WHAT’S
IN:
- Empty
clean rigid plastic bottles and containers labelled 1,2, 3, 4 and 5, lids
separately - Clean
paper and cardboard - Clean
steel food cans, aluminium cans and foil - Clean
glass bottles and food and sauce jars with their lids placed in the recycling
bin separately.
WHAT’S
OUT:
- Bagged
material in any type of plastic bag - Coated
cardboard cartons that are used to package milk, juice and various other
liquids - Soft
plastic packaging such plastic bags, bread and frozen food bags - Polystyrene
packaging - Plastic
toys - Metal
pots and pans - Clothing
and footwear
Some
extra tips to make sure recyclable items get another life:
- If
you’re not sure if a plastic can be recycled, give it a squeeze! If it goes
back to its original shape, it’s a rigid plastic and is safe to put in your
recycling bin. - Food
containers need a quick rinse. - Make
sure to keep your recycling loose and not in plastic bag.
More
information about the changes to kerbside recycling in the G21 region can be
found at
City of Greater Geelong
councillor Ron Nelson, Chair, Waste Management portfolio
Our community has been disappointed to see the contents of yellow bins
being sent to landfill, so the return of our kerbside recycling service is very
good news. We’re now asking for everyone’s help to make it a success by getting
back in the habit of sorting your recycling, and learning about the changes to
what can and can’t be put in your yellow bin. In the meantime we will continue to work on new ideas to make sure we
have the most effective recycling system possible in the long-term.
Borough of Queenscliffe Mayor
Ross Ebbels
Getting our recycling system back on track requires teamwork. That’s
why our five Councils are working together on a regional recycling approach,
and why we’re asking residents to take extra care with sorting their recycling.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Owen Sharkey
With
recycling back on the way, we all need to start getting back into good practice
to avoid contamination. To
stop recycling heading back to landfill in the future, we need the help of
everyone to only put the correct recyclables in yellow lid bins.
Surf Coast Shire Mayor Rose
Hodge
I know our community will be so relieved that a solution
has now been reached and that soon we’ll be recovering materials again. Getting our recyclables out of landfill and back into the
recycling stream will help limit the new resources we draw on. It also meets
the expectations of the community, who have stayed committed to recycling
during this period.
