Mayor's Message - 28 August 2026

Small actions at home can have a big impact on our environment and our community, and that is the message behind the City of Ballarat’s latest recycling campaign.  

Contamination in our recycling system costs more than $140,000 each year, with more than 20 per cent of material placed in yellow-lidded recycling bins containing items that do not belong there.

Ballarat residents have shown a strong commitment to recycling and sustainability, but these figures remind us that there is still room for improvement. Every item placed in the correct bin helps reduce waste, improve recycling outcomes, and keep processing costs down for our community.

Incorrectly sorting waste not only increases costs; it also reduces the value of materials that can be recovered and recycled. At the same time, recyclable items continue to be sent to landfill when they could be given a second life through our recycling system.

By taking a few extra moments to think about which bin an item belongs in, we can all contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable Ballarat. Common items such as glass, soft plastics, batteries, electronic waste, and vapes should not be placed in recycling bins and require alternative disposal methods.

The City of Ballarat is committed to supporting residents with the information and resources they need to make informed waste and recycling decisions. Through education initiatives and practical tools such as the A-Z Waste and Recycling Guide, we are working together to improve resource recovery and reduce contamination across our city.

The success of our waste and recycling system relies on all of us playing our part. Small changes in our everyday habits can reduce unnecessary costs, protect our environment, and help ensure valuable resources remain in circulation rather than ending up in landfill.

When it comes to recycling, every correct choice matters.  

Together, we can continue building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for Ballarat.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves