Ipswich residents can now put glass in their yellow-lid recycling bin.
Ipswich City Council is transitioning to a new Resource Recovery Strategy, which sets out the city’s waste management and resource recovery strategy for the next decade.
The reintroduction of glass to the yellow lid bin was one of four pillars set out in the strategy.
Growth Infrastructure and Waste Committee Chair Mayor Teresa Harding said being able to put unbroken glass back into the yellow-lid bin is a great result for the community and the environment.
“In a recent survey over 90 percent of residents told us they want to recycle, and they wanted to be able to put glass in their recycling bin,” Mayor Harding said.
“We have been able to deliver this important service which keeps glass out of landfill.
“We want to move toward a circular economy here in Ipswich where resources are diverted from landfill and redistributed for as long as possible, and glass is 100 per cent recyclable and can be recycled infinitely.”
Glass recovered through the yellow-lid recycle bin will be sent to council’s Materials Recovery Facility contractor in Brisbane where it will be separated from other recycling materials and then sent for further beneficiation and reuse, where it will eventually be utilised in everything from new glass bottles and jars through to sand substitutes in roads and drainage.
Mayor Harding said council would continue to operate glass collection points as well.
“If you would like to continue to use the council glass collection points, you can,” Mayor Harding said.
“There are collection points at Brassall, Churchill, Riverview and Rosewood.
“Of course residents may also choose to use the container refund scheme, Containers for Change, where most glass is eligible for a 10c refund per container when returned to a designated refund point.”
As glass is made from only three natural ingredients – sand, limestone and soda ash – it doesn’t break down into harmful chemicals, making glass the most earth, ocean and animal-friendly packaging option.
Not all types of glass, however, are accepted for recycling.
Non-recyclable glass includes: drinking glasses, window glass, light bulbs, car windscreens, mirrors, ceramics, china and oven-proof and heat-treated glass (e.g. Pyrex). Dispose of these items in your red-top bin.
Ipswich City Council’s waste recycling program accepts the following five types of waste in yellow lid recycling bins:
- Glass: jars and bottles
- Metal: aluminium and steel (drink and aerosol cans, food tins)
- Plastic: bottles and containers (milk, soft drink and shampoo bottles, yoghurt/ice-cream tubs)
- Cardboard: boxes (including pizza boxes)
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, junk mail and office paper
Council is committed to investigating and implementing innovative waste and recycling services focusing on resource recovery infrastructure that meets the needs of a growing city.
“We have bought glass back to yellow-top recycling, residents are taking part in a FOGO trial for the first time, flexible on-demand kerbside collection models are being explored, as we begin planning on the future development of new waste management infrastructure,” Mayor Harding said.
