In response to the export ban and the impacts it has had on the global recycling market, the Victorian Government developed a 10-year action plan in February 2020 to reform Victoria’s waste and recycling industry, Recycling Victoria: A New Economy.  

The Victorian Government released the Recycling Victoria: A New Economy policy in 2020 to reform the state’s waste and recycling system following global recycling market changes and export bans on certain waste materials.

The plan sets out actions to:

• transition to a circular economy
• introduce a four-bin household system
• deliver the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS).

Circular Economy

We are moving from the traditional linear model of “make, use and dispose” to a circular economy. This approach focuses on sharing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling materials for as long as possible.

Councils, businesses and the community all play a role in reducing waste to landfill and increasing the use of recovered materials. The Victorian Government’s target is to divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030, supported by investment in local recycling infrastructure and new jobs.

For more information visit, Victoria's plan for a circular economy. 

Four-bin Household System

By 2030, all Victorian households will have access to a four-stream waste and recycling service:

• garbage bin (red lid)
• commingled recycling bin (yellow lid)
• food organics and garden organics (FOGO) bin (lime-green lid)
• glass bin (purple lid).

Bin sizes and collection frequencies may vary between councils depending on local circumstances.

For more information visit, Victoria’s four-stream waste and recycling system. 

Container Deposit Scheme

Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) launched in November 2023. The scheme provides a 10-cent refund for every eligible drink container returned to a refund point.

CDS Vic supports:

• improved recycling
• reduced waste and litter
• new jobs and economic opportunities across Victoria
• fundraising for charities, community groups and local organisations.

In Whitehorse, the network operator is Visy. Local organisations or businesses interested in becoming a collection or refund point can contact Visy.

For more information, visit the Victorian Government's website.