Hume City has voted against a new kerbside glass recycling service, taking a stand against a Victorian government mandate that councillors say places an unnecessary financial burden on the community.
The decision, made at the Monday 26 May council meeting, marks a rare but significant pushback against the Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021, which requires all Victorian councils to implement a four-bin waste system by July 2027.
Under the mandate, councils must introduce a separate glass recycling bin for households in addition to the existing garbage, mixed recycling, and food and garden organics bins. However, Hume councillors unanimously rejected the proposal, citing concerns about cost, duplication with the state’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), and low expected participation rates.
Council officers had recommended rolling out 80-litre glass bins to more than 102,000 homes, at a projected cost of $5.74m for procurement and rollout, plus $2.86m in annual operating expenses. An additional $4.78m would be needed to replace non-compliant bin lids to meet new colour standards.
Councillors such as Cllr Sam Misho and Cllr Naim Kurt were among those who argued the service offers poor value for ratepayers, with estimates showing it would cost around $56 per household for rollout and $26 annually to operate – costs that would be passed on through the Waste Service Charge.
Council officers also noted glass-only bins in other municipalities had low usage rates, often under 30%.
While the Victorian government has stated non-compliance may result in penalties, Hume will now join a growing coalition of councils advocating for the state to delay or reconsider the rollout. Officers have already participated in joint advocacy efforts, highlighting the mismatch between projected costs and actual community benefit.
The council’s decision sets the stage for a broader showdown between local government and state policymakers over how best to manage Victoria’s waste future.
