Greater Shepparton City Council has cleared the way for the introduction of a new glass-only bin.
The move to a four-bin system will also see changes to the frequency of collection for general rubbish, which will move from weekly to fortnightly. The green waste bin will be collected weekly instead of every second week.
The changes will be implemented by March 2024.
Councillors rejected an initial waste transition plan in November last year, but at the July 19 meeting voted to approve the transition plan.
Cr Anthony Brophy moved the motion to make the changes but also called for a detailed report by December 2022 on the implementation process and education, marketing and monitoring.
“Waste is everyone’s business and everyone's responsibility,” Cr Brophy said.
Cr Brophy said he was taken aback by the level of contamination in bins found during an audit.
Cr Sam Spinks said she supported the changes, including monthly glass bin collection, which could achieve a 34 per cent reduction in waste going to landfill.
“Right now with our current set-up, we are not getting our waste to the right place; 70 per cent of the waste in the red bin should be in either the yellow or green bin,” she said.
Fortnightly red bin collection would reduce the cost by $21.95 a bin and the expected 30 per cent drop in the weight of rubbish sent to landfill would save a further $23.90.
Additional savings from improvements in the recycling (yellow lid) stream would be enough to cover the increased costs associated with the new glass bin, as well as weekly organics (green bin).
Under the model, the additional cost per household would be $1.85 a year.
Cr Fern Summer said the changes would require significant education and suggested there should be an “opt out” system for residents who didn’t need or want to use the glass bin. Cr Summer said she couldn’t support the motion.
Cr Geoff Dobson said he acknowledged some residents would have problems, but said changes needed to be made to achieve a circular economy.
“I wholeheartedly support the transition,” he said.
Cr Dinny Adem and Cr Greg James also supported the motion, which was passed six votes to one. Cr Summer voted against the motion.
The change to four bins is expected to cost $1.9 million, including bin purchase and delivery.
Council could receive up to $400,000 in Victorian Government assistance to make the transition, and a grant for $82,000 for a comprehensive education program.