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Millions of Victorians will soon have to sort their rubbish into four separate bins as a result of a major overhaul of the state’s recycling system.

The initiative will cost the state government $515 million, while requiring residents to transition to using four bins, including a new purple one, made only of glass by 2030.

In 2021, the bins will be introduced to areas in the regional suburbs of Victoria and Melbourne, with plans to eventually include every household.

Residents in those 13 boroughs were used to try out the scheme, which officials are touting as Australia’s first recycling overhaul of its kind.

Some Victoria residents already separate their waste into four bins with the latest addition being the purple top (right) used only for glass to prevent contamination

The initiative will cost the state government $515 million, requiring residents to transition to using four bins, including a new purple one, by 2030 (pictured, Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews)

In addition to the red, yellow and green bins, the purple bin is used for glass.

Soft plastic, wrappers and dirty food containers can be put in the yellow bin, with residents taking some plastic to supermarkets for recycling.

The green FOGO bin (Food Organics Garden Organics) is used for organic waste and the red bin for general household waste.

Victoria’s environment minister Lily D’Ambrosio said Victoria was the first state in Australia to attempt a major recycling overhaul.

NSW typically separates its waste into compost (left), recycling and landfill (right)

“We are the first state in Australia to roll out the same bins to every household, and the first to put soft plastic and pizza boxes in those bins,” she said.

Ms D’Ambrosio said last year that the circular economy (waste reduction and recycling) bill would bring clarity to Victoria’s recycling sector.

“For too long we’ve had an industry that’s been desegregated, that’s been very disjointed, with a whole bunch of different rules that exist in a whole bunch of different municipalities, making it really hard for Victorians who want to do the right thing in terms of recycling,” she said.

Ms D’Amboriso said the new system would prevent 650,000 tonnes of organic waste from going to landfill, boost Victoria’s economy by $6.7 billion by 2030 and create nearly 4,000 jobs.

Frankston, in Melbourne’s southern suburbs, is next on the list to join the deposit system and will receive the new purple bins in 2023.

Australia’s states and territories all use different systems to allocate bins.

Residents of Western Australia have three bin systems to choose from, with many opting for red (garbage), yellow (recyclable) and green (vegetable matter) – a fourth bin is pending for many purely for organic waste

In NSW, most households are provided with a general waste bin (red lid), bin (yellow lid) and garden vegetation bin (green lid).

Some households may also have a maroon lidded food waste cupboard for residents of the Inner West and City of Sydney council areas.

In Queensland, residents are encouraged to divide their bins into general waste, recycling and garden waste.

Last November, the Sunshine State began a 12-month trial of green organic waste bins in three municipalities: Townsville City Council, Rockhampton Regional Council, and Lockyer Valley Regional Council.

South Australia operates on a three bin system, with a red bin for general waste, a yellow bin for recyclables and a green bin for items such as leftover food, paper towels, tissues and garden waste.

All Victorian households will have to sort their rubbish into four separate bins by 2030, under new laws to be introduced in the state parliament (stock image of people collecting rubbish)

Tasmanians have successfully implemented the organic waste bins, along with the standard household rubbish bin with a red, dark green or black lid, and a classic yellow lidded bin for recyclables.

In the ACT, most homes have a standard 140-gallon red-lid trash can and a 240-gallon yellow-lid trash can. Residents can request a green waste container for a one-off registration fee of € 50.

Typically, WA households have three waste bin systems to choose from. In the two-bin system, residents are assigned one yellow bin for recyclables and one red bin for general waste.

Alternatively, the three-bin Garden Organics (GO) system sees residents get an extra green-lid bin for plant matter. Locals can opt for a three-bin food organics, garden organics (FOGO) system. The main difference is that the green bin can also process food waste and paper products.

The Top End works with the two bin model. Residents can divide their waste into two bins: a bin with a red lid for general waste and a bin with a yellow lid for recycling.