Mansfield Shire joins statewide push against costly fourth bin

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Nearly 25,000 Victorians have spoken and the message is clear: they don't want a costly fourth glass recycling bin. 

A recent statewide survey has revealed that 83% of respondents were opposed the purple-lidded, glass-only bin while 91% supported expanding the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) to include glass wine and spirit bottles instead. 

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the results reflect what Council has been hearing from the community all along. 

"Our community has told us loud and clear that a fourth bin isn't the right fit for Mansfield Shire," he said. 

"There's a simpler answer already sitting right in front of us - the container deposit scheme. It already works, people already understand it and expanding it to wine and spirit bottles would get the same result without adding another bin to every household." 

Mansfield Shire Council has lent its voice to the advocacy campaign and the community has stepped up in support by taking part in the survey. 

In Mansfield Shire: 

  • 82.9% opposed the introduction of a separate glass bin 
  • 95.2% supported expanding the CDS to include wine and spirit bottles 

Even so, the Victorian state government's mandate requires councils to introduce a stand-alone glass collection service by July 2027. With strong community opposition and significant costs, 35 councils have come together to urge the state government to reconsider the July 2027 deadline. 

Estimates suggest rollout of purple bins will would cost a typical council around $4 million to set up, plus $27 per household each year. Councils are calling for the state government to release the business case they have cited in argument for the purple bins to allow transparent comparison with independent economic modelling commissioned in 2025. 

“Council is always looking to get the best bang for our ratepayer’s buck. A mandated purple bin just isn’t cost-effective. The community has spoken, and Council agrees, the initiative to expand the CDS is the better way to recycle glass,” Mayor Cr Rabie said. 

Councils who are calling for greater transparency and advocating against the introduction of the fourth bin include: 

  •  Alpine Shire Council 
  • Banyule City Council 
  • Bass Coast Shire Council 
  • Bayside City Council 
  • Benalla Rural City Council 
  • City of Boroondara 
  • Campaspe Shire Council 
  • Cardinia Shire Council 
  • City of Greater Geelong 
  • East Gippsland Shire Council 
  • Gannawarra Shire Council 
  • Glen Eira City Council 
  • Hepburn Shire Council 
  • Hume City Council 
  • Kingston City Council 
  • Knox City Council 
  • Latrobe City Council 
  • Manningham Council 
  • Mansfield Shire Council 
  • Maroondah City Council 
  • Monash City Council 
  • Moorabool Shire Council 
  • Mornington Peninsula Shire Council 
  • Nillumbik Shire Council 
  • South Gippsland Shire Council 
  • Stonnington City Council 
  • Swan Hill Rural City Council 
  • Whitehorse City Council 
  • Wodonga City Council 
  • Wyndham City Council 
  • Yarra Ranges Shire Council 
Tagged as: Waste