The Truth About Plastic, Glass and Recycling in Geelong

Since we first wrote about recycling in Geelong, a lot has changed. We’ve seen the introduction of the purple-lid glass bins and a massive shift in how our local community handles plastic.

At G-town Skips, we get asked all the time: “Can I put glass in my skip?” or “Does my plastic actually get recycled?” Today, we’re sharing the truth about waste in the Greater Geelong and Surf Coast region, and how your skip bin hire plays a massive role in the solution.

1. The Glass Revolution: Why Quality Matters

In Geelong, glass is now a “clean” waste stream. Because glass can be recycled infinitely without losing quality, keeping it separate from paper and plastic is vital.

While your kerbside purple bin is for bottles and jars, G-town Skips handles the “tough” glass that the council won’t take. If you are doing a renovation or shop fit-out, your skip bin is the primary way to recycle:

• Plate Glass: Old windows and sliding doors.
• Mirrors: Which contain chemicals that can’t go in council bins.
• Safety Glass: Common in shower screens and car windows.

The Truth: When these items go in a general waste bin, they shatter and contaminate everything else. When you use a specialised skip bin hire in Geelong, we ensure this glass is diverted to facilities that can crush it for road base or new glass products.

2. The Plastic Problem: Beyond the Triangle

We’ve all heard the statistic: less than 10% of plastic is recycled globally. In Geelong, the “truth” is that soft plastics (scrunchie plastics) are the hardest to manage.

G-town’s Professional Advice:

• Conscious Construction: If you’re a contractor in Torquay or the surrounding areas, try to source materials with less plastic wrapping.
• Avoid “Wish-cycling”: Putting soft plastics in a skip bin with heavy bricks and soil makes it impossible to recover. Keep your plastics contained in bags so we can sort them at our local transfer station.

3. Why Skip Bin Hire is Part of the Recycling Chain

Many people think skip bins are just “big rubbish bins.” The truth is, G-town Skips acts as a pre-sorting service for the Geelong environment.

When your bin arrives at the sorting facility:

1. Mechanical Sorting
2. Manual Sorting
3. Resource Recovery

4. Prohibited Items: Protecting Our Workers

To keep our recycling process “truthful” and safe, there are some glass and plastic items that cannot go into a standard skip:

• Medical Glass: Needs clinical waste disposal.
• Chemical Drums: Even if they are plastic, they are hazardous.
• CRT Monitor Glass: (Old bulky TVs) contain lead and must go to the Geelong Resource Recovery Centre.

For more information about what can and can’t be put in when you hire a skip bin in Geelong, please take a look at this blog post.

Play Your Part in a Cleaner Geelong

Responsible waste management isn’t just about “throwing it away” it’s about knowing where “away” is. Whether you’re clearing out a garage in Belmont or managing a worksite in North Geelong, G-town Skips ensures your plastic and glass are handled with the planet in mind.

Book a Sustainable Skip Bin Today or call our local team on 0448 710 788.