Fourth bin plan for recycle problems

HOUSEHOLDS soon could be putting out four bins on kerbside collection nights under a state plan to fix Victoria’s recycling woes.

The Andrews Government has revealed a new $11.3 million package to help councils struggling with recycling costs since the closure of processing facility SKM.

The money should avoid extra costs being passed on to ratepayers, and would also be used to improve the quality of material sent to processors.

As part of the plan, the government says it will “work with councils on a major overhaul of kerbside collection to improve the quality of recyclables being collected by councils”.

It says “this may include extra bins for households to improve the separation of waste”.

This means the current three-bin model used in many areas — one for recycling, one for waste, and one for garden material — could be increased to four or more.

Another option would be for separate sections to be installed in bins to keep some material from co-mingling.

At the moment, smashed glass and other contamination issues wreak havoc on recycling sorting.

The idea of increasing the number of bins at kerbside collections is likely to be controversial, but is expected to be implemented by councils that volunteer at first.

It was revealed last month that at least one council was considering the option as part of the SKM crisis.

A new statewide waste policy is currently being developed, and a meeting of state and federal governments last week pledged to boost the reuse of materials.

New targets will “be considered to drive investment in end uses, such as glass for road base and railway sleepers made from plastics”.