More than 53,000 purple-lid glass recycling bins are being prepared at the Ballarat Airport for delivery to households from late September and throughout October.
The massive delivery of the 140-litre bins to the Airport required 36 truck deliveries, with each bin then assembled and prepared for distribution by McCallum Enterprises, supporting local jobs and expertise in the rollout of the project.
The City of Ballarat is getting ready to launch its new four-bin kerbside collection service from Monday 3 November 2025.
In just two months, households across the Ballarat municipality will receive their first dedicated glass recycling and new FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) kerbside collection services.
FOGO kitchen caddies, compostable caddy liners, a fridge magnet and information explaining what can and cannot go in each bin, will also soon be delivered to households.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the purple-lid bin rollout provides a clear solution for the community to recycle glass.
"Last year, the City of Ballarat collected more than 700 tonnes of glass through our Pass on Glass sites," she said.
"However, waste audit data indicated that a further 600 tonnes of recyclable glass still ended up in our household waste bins.
"The introduction of a new purple lid glass bin is more convenient for residents and increases the likelihood of diverting glass from landfill.
"This kerbside collection service rollout is an important step as our city moves towards a more sustainable and circular future."
Local social enterprise, McCallum Enterprises, has been contracted to manage the assembly of the glass bins prior to delivery to households in the region.
"McCallum Enterprises are thrilled to continue our partnership with the City of Ballarat in assembling the glass bins for all households in the municipality," McCallum Enterprises CEO, Rhiannon Williams said.
"Not only does this project provide fantastic local environmental benefits with the increased amount of glass items being recycled in the region, but the social benefits this type of assembly work provides for our team of Supported Employees is immeasurable."
Residents will be able to add glass bottles and jars to their new purple lid glass bin.
Accepted items include glass bottles, such as soft drink, juice, water, beer, wine, spirits, medicine, vitamin and supplements, and jars, such as pasta sauce, jam, pickles and coffee. Glass should be lightly rinsed.
Glass recycling will be collected every four weeks.
Residents can begin to use their purple-lid bin once it arrives or continue to drop off glass at one of the Pass on Glass sites until Sunday 30 November. The Pass on Glass drop-off sites in the community will then close.
The Pass on Glass site at the Ballarat Transfer Station in Gillies Street will remain open.
The Ballarat Waste app puts local waste and recycling information right at your fingertips. Download the app via the App Store or on Google Play.
