Published on 07 October 2025
The Shire is forking out an extra $1 million to process household recycling following a rise in contamination*. Instead of paying the additional cost for our contractors to dispose of contaminated material, we would prefer to see that money go towards upgrades to infrastructure that benefit our community. We know our community doesn't want to waste ratepayer funds either. The good news is—we can turn this around together. Contamination is measured by weight, which means even small mistakes can add up. One of the most effective ways to reduce contamination is to ensure containers are empty before they are placed in the bin. A quick empty and rinse can make all the difference. So, what goes in your kerbside recycling bin?
To help everyone recycle right, we’re launching a new community education campaign called ‘Bin it right, future’s bright!’. Through this initiative, we’ll be sharing simple tips so everyone has the information they need to make recycling easier and more effective. Bin inspections Periodically throughout the year, our waste contractor undertakes bin inspections. Unlike nosey bin chickens, our inspectors don’t dig around in the bins – that's potentially dangerous! However, they lift the lid, shine a torch to look at the contents and leave a sticker letting residents know if they’ve done a good job or whether their recycling habits need to improve. These inspections help us understand what the most common recycling mistakes are and help us tailor our community education campaigns. Contamination doesn’t just add cost, it can also lead to dangerous situations. This year, batteries placed in kerbside bins have started at least two truck fires on the Peninsula, putting neighbourhoods and our drivers at great risk. How about a free trip to the tip? There are lots of items that don’t belong in your kerbside bins, such as batteries, gas containers, electrical appliances and textiles. These can be disposed of for free at our resource recovery centres. Larger things like tyres, mattresses and white goods are free too. Check out our A-Z listing to learn what goes where: mornpen.vic.gov.au/recyclingguide
Quotes attributable to Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh: “The Shire’s contamination rate has risen from under 15 per cent to 17.8 per cent. While this may sound like a small increase, it comes at a big cost. I’ve no doubt our residents would like to see that $1 million spent on other things such as improving our roads! "We know the majority of households want to do the right thing when it comes to recycling, and this campaign is about making it even easier for them. We’re reminding our residents that the kerbside bin works best when we keep it simple: empty and clean containers from the kitchen and laundry, as well as paper and cardboard.” *Contamination refers to non-recyclable items such as food scraps, liquids, textiles and batteries being placed in the recycling bin.