For the first time in the Clutha District, we have begun a colour sorted glass recycling trial, which is taking place at the Milton Transfer Station and will run for six months (until February-March 2026). Milton is a strategic location to get the glass to Dunedin.
The transfer station, which is open 24/7, also takes household recycling (yellow lids), on the left as you come through the gate on Bruce Street (the continuation of Scott Street). The glass recycling is directly ahead in the blue lidded bins. Here's some FAQs and key points about the trial and its aims:
How glass recycling works and is paid for
- Our colour separated material collected at Milton Transfer Station is stockpiled with Dunedin City Council’s, then transported to 5 R Solutions Window Glass Recovery factory in Christchurch.
- Council contributes to transporting the glass as far as Christchurch.
- Both the tonnage and shipping is paid for through the waste disposal levy from Central Government under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.
- The service is rates-neutral – no charge through rates.
- Visy pays for the material to be sent to its furnace in Auckland.
- Visy recycles 485,000 tonnes of glass containers, jars and bottles and remanufactures them into 3 billion bottles and jars each year, which contain up to 70% recycled glass.
- Colour sorting is important because the plant requires separated colours to produce specific-coloured products e.g., recycled green bottles and jars are recycled into green glass products etc.
The trial will collect data that is required by the Ministry of Environment as Council keeps working on a district-wide process to stop glass going into landfills. At the moment, it goes in our rubbish bins or is dropped off at Mt Cooee Landfill. A more permanent glass recycling proposal is being worked on and likely won’t be available until sometime in 2027.
Glass recycling tips
- Wash it. Give bottles and jars a quick rinse before dropping them off.
- Sort it. Use the separate bins for clear, brown and green glass.
- Remove it. Take lids and caps off before recycling. (If you haven't removed them beforehand, there is a separate bin for these at the transfer station).
- Keep it clean. Contaminated glass could affect the success of the trial.
- Support the trial. Your effort will help Council understand demand for glass recycling in Clutha.
To see colour sorting in action, watch our video on the Council's Facebook page.
