Macedon Ranges Shire residents can no longer put glass into their recycling bin.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council formerly used SKM Recycling, who were forced into liquidation after a court-imposed order earlier this month, resulting in at least 30 Victorian councils needing to look elsewhere for their recycling needs.
In conjunction with its waste contractor, Four Seasons Waste, the council has found an alternative processor but the company will only accept recycling loads which do not contain glass.
The council’s assets and operations acting director Anne-Louise Lindner Council urged residents to remove glass from their recycling bins and work with council as it sought to find an alternative to sending recycling to landfill.
“We really hope the community will come on board and help us to remove glass from recycling bins,” Ms Lindner said.
“Shards and small pieces of glass can become embedded in paper and cardboard in recycling bins and contaminate the other recyclables.
“We urge residents to remove glass from their bins and help us explore this new option for our recyclables with a new processor.”
Ms Lindner said council would do bin audits in coming weeks and monitor the level of glass in the bins.
“If we can see glass has been removed from bins, we may be able to divert recycling from landfill and send the glass-free recycling to this new processor.”
Ms Lindner said council had long been advocating for a solution to the recycling issue, which involved all levels of government working together.
The State Government last week announced councils affected by SKM’s closure will receive a rebate to cover additional costs incurred to deal with recyclable waste.
“This new funding has a particular focus on finding innovative solutions to the problem and, by trying to remove glass from our recycling, we’re already making progress in this area,” Ms Lindner said.
Residents can take glass free of charge to council’s transfer stations in Kyneton, Woodend and Romsey. Council advises that as a last resort, glass can be placed in general rubbish bins.
Lancefield residents who are taking part in a glass recycling trial will be able to place glass in the special ‘glass only’ bins, which have been provided to participants.
Council will consider long-term options regarding recycling at its council meeting on August 28.
