Recycling

The separation of recyclable materials from the general waste stream is an important part of DELWP's Getting Full Value Waste and Resource Recovery Policy.

Glenelg Shire provides a kerbside recyclable materials collection service along with its kerbside garbage collection service. The townships of Cape Bridgewater, Casterton, Condah, Dartmoor, Heywood, Merino, Narrawong, Nelson, Portland and Sandford receive this service. Details can be found on the Waste and Recyclables Collection Service page.

The waste management facilities (landfills and transfer stations) at Casterton, Dartmoor, Heywood, Merino and Portland also offer facilities for the drop-off of recyclable materials.

For a guide of what is recyclable please see below or check out Sustainability Victoria's recycling webpage or Planet Ark's Recycling Near You.

In general, we advise the following:

• Ensure the plastic bottle is empty, and crush the bottle if possible. The lid may then be screwed lightly back onto the bottle and placed in the recycling bin
• Most plastic lids and neck rings are not the same type of plastic as the container but they can be easily separated in many processing facilities.
• Plastic lids on their own are too small for current recycling technology to sort so do not place them loose in the recycling bin.

Glenelg Shire Council encourages residents and visitors to recycle in the home and also when they are out and about in the Glenelg Shire. In order to better achieve higher recycling rates, public place litter bins are being coupled with recycling infrastructure. Council has adopted a policy regarding Public Place Recycling (PPR). The Glenelg Shire Council's Public Place Recycling Policy helps to determine what the appropriate recycling choices are when implementing PPR programs/projects.

The Glenelg Shire Council used to be a part of the TApex's Plasback programme. Unfortunately this programme is no longer active in Australia.

Glenelg Shire Council is currently investigating new opportunities to recycle silage wrap and netting.

Do you need to safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals? Household chemicals can be dangerous – they can harm your family and your pets, add extra fuel to a house fire, release toxic fumes and pollute the environment for future generations.

Detox your Home is a safe, free and easy-to-use service to dispose of unwanted highly toxic household chemicals without harming your health or the environment.

The collected items are recycled for recovery and diverted from landfill.

There are up to 30 Detox your Home mobile collections held across Victoria each year to enable all Victorian householders to access this free service. The program is administered by Sustainability Victoria in collaboration with local councils and funded by the Victorian landfill levy.

Visit Sustainability Victoria's Detox Your Home webpage for a complete list of upcoming mobile collections and accepted products.

Detox your Home – do the right thing for your loved ones and your environment. It’s easy and it’s free.

To supplement mobile collections Sustainability Victoria established a "Permanent Drop-off Site" at Portland Transfer Station.
Permanent drop-off sites allow the safe disposal of household paint, batteries, compact fluorescent lamps – which are less toxic than household chemicals ¬(but also a more common waste item) – for free throughout the year.

There is a nearby drop-off site at:

Portland Transfer Station
210 Cape Nelson Road,
Portland Vic 3305

For more information and a full list of permanent drop-off sites visit Sustainability Victoria's website or contact the Glenelg Shire Council.

Printer cartridges are made up of a complex combination of plastics, metals, foam, ink and toner. Throwing them into landfill represents a waste of resources and contributes to the growing problem of electronic waste. By recycling your cartridges you are helping to reduce this waste. You can recycle your used ink and toner cartridges at the following locations within the Glenelg Shire:

• Casterton Glenelg Shire Council Customer Service Centre
• Casterton Post Office
• Casterton Transfer Station
• Dartmoor Transfer Station
• Heywood Post Office
• Heywood Transfer Station
• Merino (Jarad’s Rd) Transfer Station
• Nelson Transfer Station
• Portland Glenelg Shire Council Customer Service Centre
• Portland Post Office
• Portland Transfer Station

The materials recovered from used cartridges are into various items including pens, outdoor furniture and garden edging and even in road surfaces.

Did you know dental products could be recycled? Terracycle has partnered with Colgate to create a recycling program for almost all dental products. Standard toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and packaging, and dental floss containers can all be recycled through this program.

You can drop these items off at:

GMHBA Dental Care Portland
47 Henty Street,
Portland VIC 3305

In 2019 EPA Victoria introduced a ban on E-waste being deposited to landfills

Council provides E-waste drop off points at Portland, Heywood, Dartmoor, Casterton, Nelson and Merino (Jarrads Road) Waste Management facilities. This service is provided in conjunction with Glenelg Shire, the Waste Reduction Group and Western District Employment Access. E-waste is electrical goods such as hair dryers, laptops, computers and hard drives or TV’s.

Fridges and washing machines aren't accepted under the E-waste program but still can be recycled at our waste facilities.

Previously the disposal of E-waste has been at a cost, but as of the 1 August 2013, disposal is free.