Horsham Rural City Council is to survey residents on proposed changes to household glass recycling bin collections.
Waste collection data has revealed fewer people are using their glass recycling bins, since they were introduced in April 2023.
Currently, Council waste collection teams drive past 8000 households every four weeks – with only 18 per cent of households putting their purple bins out for collection.
That is a reduction from 24 per cent from the 2023-24 financial year.
The average weight of glass collected per household is less than 12kg of the 50kg capacity of the 120-litre bin.
If everyone filled their purple bins, Council teams could collect up to 4,800 tonnes per year.
Instead, during 2024-25, they collected 215 tonnes – only 4 per cent of the total potential capacity.
As a result, Council is proposing reducing the frequency of glass recycling bin collections – while maintaining the amount of glass we collect.
If purple bins are collected every 8 weeks instead of 4 weeks:
- Each bin collected would on average still be less than half full
- More households would use the service, making collection routes more efficient
- Council would save $32,000 per year, and drive down fuel costs
- CO2 emissions would reduce by 8 tonnes per year
- Waste collection teams could better analyse routes to identify more areas of efficiency
Council introduced the glass recycling bins ahead of State Government legislation requiring all Victorian councils to introduce glass collections and food and organic (FOGO) collections.
Initially, one in four households in the Horsham municipality took advantage of the service. The introduction of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) in November 2023 saw this number fall to less than one in five.
Councillors heard at Monday's Council meeting that changing the frequency of collections to every 8 weeks will save cost, time and CO2 emissions, and lead to other efficiencies in its waste collection services.
For those households that request them, Council will provide an extra 120-litre purple bin at no extra charge.
While it is apparent the frequency of Council's glass recycling bins collections exceeds requirements, Council will conduct a survey of all households to ascertain community sentiment on the proposed change.
The survey will also seek to explore if there are any differences in use of the glass collection service between urban Horsham compared to the rural townships.
It is anticipated community consultation will be conducted over a 4-week period in November.
Community feedback will be considered prior to presenting the final report to Council.
"We take great care in making sure we strike the right balance with our waste collection services," said Acting Mayor Brian Klowss.
"This proposed change will help our waste collection teams work more efficiently, save money and reduce CO2 emissions, while ensuring everybody can still dispose of their glass waste safely and effectively."
Changing the frequency of glass recycling collections is one part of an overall review of Council's waste services, which also includes:
- Developing a master plan for the Dooen Landfill
- Redesign of the Horsham Transfer Station
- Operation of rural transfer stations
- Waste collection routes aiming to reduce the number of trucks required
- Council's waste education program
Reports on these areas will be brought to Council in future months.
