Trialing new ways to reduce waste

Council has been successful in securing funding for local initiatives to help the Bayside community recycle and recover resources rather than sending them to landfill.

The three projects funded by Recycling Victoria will help to reduce waste volumes, increase the reuse, repair, repurposing, or recycling of materials, and increase circular economy activity, stimulating local employment and economic growth. The new initiatives will complement existing and upcoming initiatives such as the change to bin collections in 2022.

The projects are:

A Bayside repair and re-use centre/service

Council will undertake research into the feasibility of establishing a repair and re-use centre or service in Bayside. This will focus on avoiding and reducing waste by encouraging repair, borrowing, re-use, skills development, and community partnerships.

The research will include seeking community feedback on demand for the service.

Reusable nappy program

Council is participating in research into a best-practice reusable nappy program in collaboration with nine other Melbourne councils (Monash, Maribyrnong, Nillumbik, Greater Dandenong, Yarra Ranges, Maroondah, Boroondara, Glen Eira, and Stonnington).

The study will assess the needs of parents and carers, understand possible incentives and recommend a model to deliver a reusable nappy program that can be adopted by Councils across Victoria.

Improving recycling and reducing waste in apartment blocks

Bayside will participate in a pilot program to identify the most efficient ways to reduce waste from apartment buildings going to landfill. Approximately 60 apartment blocks across ten metropolitan councils (Bayside, Darebin, Stonnington, Maribyrnong, Yarra, Port Phillip, Moreland, Greater Geelong, Melbourne, and Glen Eira) will be invited to participate in the pilot.

This project will identify the most efficient and impactful way to increase recycling rates, decrease waste to landfill and add new streams, with a strong focus on food waste and glass recycling.

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