Support to educate hepburn & macedon ranges on new recycling services

Victorian councils are being supported to roll out new education campaigns to help residents understand the four bin recycling system, as part of the Victorian Government’s goal to divert 80% of waste from landfill.

All Victorians will soon be sorting their household waste and recycling into four streams – with all local governments to transition to new glass services by 2027 and new food and garden organics services by 2030.

Local Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas said that both the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn Councils are two of the 17 councils across the state to share more than $1 million in grants.

This funding will support the Macedon Ranges Council by supporting their 4-stream household recycling services by targeting all households with a new campaign to reduce contamination, increase use of the food and garden organics service and minimise waste.

In Hepburn, the funding will have a focus on new household organics, food, garden and recycling collection. The council be will be introducing a food and garden organics service in May 2022 to all households. An opt-out option will be provided to those who process their own waste.

Sustainability Victoria will provide communication materials based on behaviour change theory and research, developed in partnership with local government and industry, allowing councils to focus their funding efforts on advertising and engaging with residents.

All councils and alpine resort management boards are eligible for funding under the $6.03 million Recycling Victoria Household Education and Behaviour Change Fund to be shared across four funding rounds. For more information on the Fund, visit Sustainability Victoria’s website.

The Victorian Government has invested over $515 million to deliver the biggest transformation and reform of Victoria’s waste and recycling industry. This includes $380 million to deliver Recycling Victoria which will fundamentally reduce waste, boost jobs and establish a recycling system Victorians can rely on.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary Anne Thomas:
"We know that locals in our region care deeply about recycling. This funding will provide the tools and support to ensure they are using their new services correctly."

"The campaign will help locals prepare for these new recycling services and understand what is changing and what they need to do."

"Our new household recycling services will maximise our recycling capacity, create new jobs and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. This is an amazing and much needed step in the right direction for our community and the entire state as well."