H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) has been detected in Victoria. If you see sick or dead birds on the Peninsula, avoid contact and record what you see. Report it online or via the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
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Published on 27 August 2026
Mornington Peninsula Shire's latest kerbside bin audit revealed that the recycling contamination* rate has reduced since last year. This is an early sign that our education campaign is helping residents sort their waste correctly. The Shire's contamination rate peaked at 17.8 per cent last year, adding an extra $1 million to the cost of processing household recycling. Since then, we have run the 'Bin it right, future's bright!' educational campaign focusing on recycling best practice. Mayor Stephen Batty explained that while the drop is welcome news, contamination remains above our target of 15 per cent. “We are closer than we have been in a while, having reduced contamination by 1.5 per cent in the last year,“ Cr Batty said. "1.5 per cent might sound modest, but 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 good rule of thumb for recycling is to only recycle paper and containers from your kitchen, laundry and bathroom. Remember, textiles don’t belong in kerbside bins. Old clothing can be taken to op shops or the tip for free.” Mayor Batty praised residents for their efforts. “It is important to highlight that Mornington Peninsula is doing better than other municipalities, where the contamination rate is above 25 per cent in some cases. It’s encouraging to see the downward trend here on Mornington Peninsula,“ Cr Batty said. “We know our community doesn't want to see ratepayer money spent on landfill fees any more than we do.” What goes in the kerbside recycling bin?
Learn more about our waste and recycling services here: mornpen.vic.gov.au/waste *Contamination refers to non-recyclable items such as food scraps, liquids, textiles and batteries being placed in the recycling bin.