Household waste collection across the Mornington Peninsula is set to change next year due to a legislated State Government reform.
What's changing on the Mornington Peninsula?
- Bin lids will be changing to red (landfill), yellow (recycling) and green (food and green waste). Households with the "old" bin lid colours (dark green for general rubbish and light blue for recycling) will receive new bin lids next year.
- Households without a food and green waste (FOGO) bin will receive one next year. Today, we already have 54,000 households already opting to use this service.
- Glass bins will not be introduced yet. We are advocating alongside other councils against the proposed requirement for glass bins. Most glass can be recycled through the Container Deposit Scheme, meaning a separate bin could be unnecessary and costly for the community.
Why are these changes needed?
The State Government is introducing this reform to lower contamination rates, reduce rubbish sent to landfill and minimise waste disposal costs. Consistent waste rules and bin lid colours across all councils will make sorting waste easier for all Victorians.
Since 2021 the State Government has increased the landfill levy by 126 per cent, so keeping food waste out of landfill is key to driving costs down. Placing food scraps in the food and green waste (FOGO) bin can reduce landfill waste by up to 40 per cent.
Acting Mayor Councillor Paul Pingiaro said: "These changes are being driven by the State Government, but the reality for us locally is simple - waste is getting more expensive. With Rye landfill expected to close within the next 12 months, we will likely need to send landfill waste further away, and that will cost more.
"The best way to help keep costs down is to keep food waste out of landfill, use the FOGO bin properly, and keep recycling clean. That is the practical challenge in front of us.
"What goes into the FOGO bin is also turned into compost that can be used by Victorian farmers, so there is a real benefit in getting it right. If we reduce contamination and send less to landfill, that is better for ratepayers, better for the environment, and supports a more useful end outcome for that waste."
The State Government's deadline for these changes is currently 1 July 2027, however there are still some unknown factors, and we are waiting for the State Government to release the final rules.
Talk to us
We want to hear from our community: Do you feel prepared for the changes? What type of support will help you transition to the new kerbside waste service?
