Glass recycling: let councils decide what’s best for their communities

Published on 26 October 2026

The following media release was written in partnership with the council advocacy group and coordinated by Manningham City Council. 

A coalition representing 41 Victorian councils is calling on all major parties to commit to a simple principle: local councils should be able to choose the glass collection model that works best for their communities.

Participating councils are calling for the flexibility to choose the most effective and sustainable approach to maximising glass recovery in their communities. Their call to elect the relevant parts of the statewide model is supported by industry leaders, including Gayle Sloan, CEO of the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR).

“Victoria has made significant progress in building recycling infrastructure, and our sector supports efforts to recover more valuable materials,” Ms Sloan said.

“Our industry has demonstrated that glass can be effectively recovered through commingled kerbside recycling. The introduction of Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme has reduced the volume of glass in kerbside bins while giving households another recovery option and a financial incentive to participate.  

“Councils should be able to build on these complementary systems and choose the approach that delivers the best recovery outcomes for their communities.”

The councils point to the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) as a clear example of a recycling initiative that is delivering results for communities, charities and the environment. More than 3 billion cans and bottles have been recycled since the scheme began in 2023, refunding more than $3 million to Victorians.

The councils say the focus should now be on maximising the value of existing recycling infrastructure and proven resource recovery systems rather than creating additional costs for councils and communities.

Pictured: mayors, councillors and representatives from some of the local councils advocating for glass recycling flexibility.