Australian local government area Corangamite Shire Council has introduced new skips for recycling glass jars and bottles.

The council upgraded the Corangamite Regional Landfill at Naroghid and transfer stations at Derrinallum, Skipton, Timboon, and Port Campbell to enable this glass recycling infrastructure.

Specifically designed for recycling collection, the new recycling skips are taller than their predecessors.

Corangamite Shire councillor Jamie Vogels said that the investment is intended to achieve high-value glass collection.

Vogels said: “This hasn’t been a small task by any means. If people don’t help by doing right thing, we’ll wind up with a downgraded product.

“Cradle to cradle describes the circulation of materials in a continuous circular economy. In this case 'cradle to cradle' means glass bottles and jars getting recycled into new bottles and jars.

“If people put in the wrong materials they will go from 'cradle to grave' and be used as road base. It’s still recycling but not a circular economy.

“As a council we’re aiming high and we just need to bring the community along with us."

The new skips feature a 'Glass Only' label while others are marked as 'Comingled Recycling'.

These initiatives will help Corangamite Shire Council in fulfilling the new Recycling Victoria state legislation that calls for the separation of glass materials from recycling by 2027.

The $320,000 upgrade project was funded by the state government through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Transfer Station Upgrade Fund.

It was completed by local contractors.

In addition, the council plans to add new 120-litre wheelie bins for kerbside collection in the region by February 2024, with plans to roll out the scheme in the following month.