Monash Council has joined 31 Victorian councils in requesting a delay in the rollout of new glass bins for every household.
Mayor Cr Paul Klisaris said the success of the Victorian Government's Container Deposit Scheme demonstrates a potentially more effective alternative.
"The Container Deposit Scheme has changed the game for aluminium, glass and plastic container recycling - diverting close to 120 million glass containers into recycling in 2023-24.
"Introducing a separate glass-bin in Monash is anticipated to cost approximately $4.7m, with ongoing operational costs of $2m a year.
"Victorians have embraced the Container Deposit Scheme and we're asking the government to reflect on the success of their own initiative and work with councils on practical waste and recycling solutions that do not add additional costs to our community.
"Our community expects us to deliver waste options that make sense and are economical, rather than introducing new programs that replicate existing ones.
"We are asking the Victorian Government to
- expand their Container Deposit Scheme to accept wine and spirits bottles
- review the success of their own program against the findings from councils where glass-only bins have been introduced
- delay the timeframe for councils to introduce a glass-only bin.
"We are calling on the Victorian Government to pause, listen and reflect on the success and future possibilities of their own Container Deposit Scheme", added Cr Klisaris.
