The Andrews Labor Government is helping thousands of regional Victorians reduce landfill and improve recycling with new separated glass and organic waste drop-off points opening across Victoria.

A $3 million Labor Government investment will support 11 regional councils to introduce new drop-off points, allowing tonnes of glass to be recycled into new glass bottles and jars and organic resources to be recycled into compost.

The regional councils who will benefit from this support are Buloke Shire Council, City of Greater Geelong, West Wimmera Shire Council, Strathbogie Shire Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council, Moira Shire Council, Towong Shire Council, Swan Hill Rural City Council and Mansfield Shire Council.

The funding is part of the $129 million investment to roll-out the new four stream waste and recycling service to Victoria’s regions, provided through the Transfer Station Upgrade Fund. Last year, the fund helped 28 regional and rural councils upgrade drop-off points in areas where kerbside services might not be appropriate.

The Government’s $34.9 million Regional Recycling Fund is also helping our regions create local circular economies through material recovery and sorting facilities in regional Victoria. Round 2 is open until 27 October 2022, with grants available for regional sorting facilities.

Victoria’s new four-stream waste and recycling system will help divert 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030, including 20,000 tonnes of glass, as part of the Labor Government’s waste and recycling reforms that will create nearly 4,000 new jobs and boost Victoria’s economy by up to $6.7 billion by 2030.

These initiatives are part of the Labor Government’s $515 million investment to transform the state’s waste and recycling sector.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio:

“We’re supporting regional communities to build thriving recycling networks and build a circular economy that creates jobs and reduces waste.”

“We’re transforming the way we think about waste – boosting jobs in regional Victoria as we target diverting 80 per cent of landfill by 2030.”