Let’s be clear on glass recycling – there’s a better way campaign

Wyndham is one of 34 local government councils taking part in an advocacy campaign urging the state government to remove their mandate that Councils must provide a fourth bin for kerbside glass recycling or significantly revise the mandate.

About the campaign

In 2022, the Victorian Government passed legislation requiring all Councils to provide a kerbside glass recycling service to residents by mid-2027. Through the mandate, they aimed to increase glass recycling rates and reduce contamination in the yellow recycling bin. Wyndham City supports the broader objectives of improving recycling outcomes and reducing contamination, however, Council has some concerns with the glass bin service and timing of implementation.

In February 2026, Wyndham City resolved to continue to advocate with the Glass Advocacy Group to call on the Victorian Government to review the requirements for a mandated glass service in favour of more efficient, locally tailored solutions, such as expanding the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS).

Council also resolved to write to the Minister for Environment to seek an extension of time to mid-2027 deadline, citing the following:

• Limited service benefits: Kerbside bin audits undertaken since the introduction of the CDS have shown a significant reduction in the amount of glass in the yellow bin at households in Wyndham. Audits also show a significant proportion of the remaining glass could be diverted to the CDS, further reducing the need for a glass recycling bin. If the CDS was expanded to accept additional glass containers, like in other states, a typical household in Wyndham would take approximately 34 weeks to fill their glass bin. The glass that is currently collected through the yellow bin is recycled effectively and used to make new glass bottles and jars. This is the same process that would be undertaken if glass was collected separately, meaning the environmental outcome would be the same.
• Council priorities and service effectiveness: As one of Victoria’s fastest growing municipalities, Wyndham City needs to ensure that further changes to the kerbside waste and recycling system are implemented effectively, efficiently and in a manner that provides genuine benefit to the community while minimising the impact on cost of living for Wyndham residents. Having recently completed the implementation of a FOGO service to all properties, it is important to balance further changes with other important initiatives to meet the City’s broader infrastructure and service demands. Wyndham City requires confirmation from the state government that the mandated glass bin service is the best option for the Wyndham community compared to the alternatives, such as an expanded CDS. The timeframe for implementation also needs to be realistic to ensure the availability of bins and other equipment, as well as the establishment of suitable collection services and processing arrangements to ensure the service is sustainable.