Alpine Shire Council is inviting residents and businesses to have their say on how glass recycling should be managed across the Shire, in response to a Victorian Government deadline requiring councils to implement a dedicated glass collection service.
The Victorian Government has mandated that, from 1 July 2027, glass must be collected separately from other household recycling, with councils expected to introduce a kerbside glass bin service unless an alternative approach can be justified.
Councils that are not prepared to implement a compliant service risk facing enforcement action and fines.
Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas, said while Council has actively advocated to the State Government to delay the introduction of a mandatory glass‑only service until the benefits clearly outweigh the costs for the community, no formal response has been received.
As a result, Council must now ensure it is prepared to introduce a compliant glass collection service if required.
"The Victorian Government’s clear preference is for councils to provide a kerbside glass bin service; however, we believe it is essential to understand whether this is the most practical and cost‑effective solution for Alpine Shire’s community, given the Shire’s size, geography and dispersed population," Cr Nicholas said.
“These changes are being driven by the Victorian Government, but how they are implemented locally is something we want strong community input on.
"If the community believes glass drop‑off points are a more suitable option, we will need robust local evidence to build a case to the Government in support of that approach.
"This community survey is a critical step in gathering that evidence."
If a kerbside glass bin service is introduced, the implementation cost would be $346,838, with the first year of service costing $357,471. Together, this would equate to a cost of just over $100 per property for ratepayers in the first year of a kerbside service.
By comparison, implementing and servicing an estimated 10 glass drop‑off points across the Shire would cost approximately $175,672 per year.
Cr Nicholas said Council needs clear evidence to support its approach should the 1 July 2027 deadline remain in place.
"Council recently promoted a survey on behalf of the Glass Advocacy Group that generated strong community interest and discussion, including the preference of drop-off points, and this follow‑up survey builds on that engagement by seeking more detailed local information to help strengthen Council’s case," she said.
“If we can’t demonstrate that drop‑off services will successfully keep glass out of recycling bins, Council may be required to introduce a separate kerbside glass bin, which would come at a significant cost to ratepayers,” Cr Nicholas said.
“That’s why community feedback is really important. It strengthens our advocacy to the State Government and helps us plan responsibly.”
Have your say
The survey asks questions about:
- how households and businesses currently dispose of glass
- how much glass needs to be collected to prevent it going in the recycling (yellow‑lid) bin
- whether Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) and glass drop‑off locations are being used
- whether a separate kerbside glass bin would be required
- if a separate kerbside glass bin is not required, where future drop‑off points would need to be located
“This change will affect every household in Alpine Shire,” Cr Nicholas said.
“I strongly encourage everyone to take a few minutes to complete the survey.
“Your feedback will directly inform Council’s decisions and our ongoing discussions with the State Government.”
The survey is now open and available online at: Glass Recycling in Alpine Shire | Engage Alpine
Printed copies of the survey can be collected from Council’s Customer Service Centre in Bright, or at Alpine Libraries in Bright, Mount Beauty and Myrtleford.
The survey will close on Sunday, 28 June 2026.