Kingston joins growing pushback on costly fourth bin plan

Published on 30 April 2026

Kingston Council has joined a growing number of councils raising serious concerns about the State Government’s plan to introduce a separate glass recycling bin for households.

At its meeting on Monday, Council resolved to advocate for changes to the proposed reforms, citing significant costs to ratepayers and questions around the effectiveness of the new service.

Mayor Georgina Oxley said while Council strongly supports recycling and environmental initiatives, the current proposal for a fourth kerbside bin does not stack up for Kingston.

“Council is committed to reducing waste and improving recycling, but this proposal comes at a very high cost for our community,” Cr Oxley said.

“The introduction of a separate glass bin is estimated to cost around $3.7 million upfront, with ongoing costs of about $1 million every year, costs that would ultimately be passed on to our ratepayers.”

Cr Oxley said the need for a separate glass bin is increasingly questionable, particularly given the success of existing recycling systems.

“We’ve already seen a significant reduction in glass going into household recycling bins thanks to the Container Deposit Scheme, and Kingston residents are making great use of those facilities,” she said.

“With relatively small amounts of glass remaining in household bins, adding another bin to every property is an expensive solution for a diminishing problem.”

Council also raised concerns about the practical impacts of introducing a fourth bin, including limited space at many properties, increased truck movements and added congestion on local streets.

“Many households simply don’t have room for another bin, and we’d also see more collection trucks on our roads, adding to traffic and environmental impacts,” Cr Oxley said.

Instead, Kingston is advocating alongside other councils for more practical and cost-effective alternatives, such as expanded container deposit schemes and communal glass drop-off points.

“There are smarter, more efficient ways to manage glass recycling that don’t place an unnecessary financial burden on households,” Cr Oxley said.

“We’re calling on the State Government to work with councils to deliver a solution that is affordable, practical and genuinely beneficial for our communities.”

Kingston will now join the let’s be clear on glass multi-council advocacy campaign urging the State Government to reconsider or revise the requirement for a separate household glass bin service.

Community members can support the campaign by completing this survey.