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Action is being taken to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the City of Ballarat’s facilities and operations, and by the Ballarat community. In addition to this, there is an increasing need to consider climate related hazards that are already impacting services, assets and the community noting that these risks will increase in the future. 

The City of Ballarat’s Carbon Neutrality and 100% Renewables Action Plan was adopted by Council in 2019. The Action Plan contains almost 60 actions to reduce the City of Ballarat’s corporate GHG emissions while also providing community support to achieve carbon emission reductions. Key actions delivered to date include the switch to renewable electricity and the installation of energy efficient streetlighting. These projects are estimated to save over 10,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. This is equivalent to taking 3,000 cars off the road each year.

The Ballarat Net Zero Emissions Plan was adopted by Council on 26 October 2022. The Plan outlines an aspirational community-wide target of reaching net zero emissions by 2030 and the actions required in order to achieve this target. It comprises of five Net Zero Outcomes on Business, Homes, New Developments, Transport and Waste. Emissions in Ballarat were estimated to total 1.5 million tonnes in 2020.

To reach net zero emissions by 2030 requires a bold and challenging approach. The stakeholders involved in the development of this plan recognise the urgency to act and supported Council’s resolution for an aspirational target of net zero emissions by 2030. It reflects a recognition of what is required to address the climate emergency.

 

Climate change affects all areas of Council operations – from planning to parks and recreation, to maintaining assets, to carrying out community services. For adaptation efforts to be effective, adaptation will need to be embedded across Council strategies and operations. The City of Ballarat will take a multi-pronged approach to addressing climate change adaptation.

Fill out the form to register your interest to participate in Ballarat Soft Plastics Collection Pilot Program

How to register:

• First you will be prompted to search for your property to ensure you are eligible to participate in the trial, once confirmed this will open the registration form.
• On completing the form you will then receive a confirmation email that we have received your registration to participate in the Ballarat Soft Plastics Pilot Program. 
• Following this you will receive notification of acceptance into the program and confirmed location to collect your City of Ballarat supplied orange bags.

Start recycling your soft plastics:

1. Fill the supplied orange collection bag with soft, scrunchable plastics that are empty and dry.
2. When the bag is full and tight like a basketball, firmly tie with a double knot.
3. Place your full and tied orange bags in the yellow-lid recycling bin. This may be monthly or even longer, depending on when the bag is full.
4. View or download the Soft Plastics Recycling Factsheet

You can only use the supplied orange issued bags, all other bags will be considered contamination and will end up in landfill. Never place loose soft plastics in your recycling bin as it can become litter, and can jam and damage collection trucks and recycling machinery. 

• Scrunchable soft plastic packaging that easily folds in your hand
• Empty and dry big bags from pet food and mulch
• Bags for food such as chips, bread, cereal and sweets
• Film wrapping like bubble and cling wrap
• Soft plastics that have any of these numbers – 2, 4 and 5

TIP: Look for the old REDcycle logo and/or the Australian Recycling Label (ARL) “Return To Store” or “In-store Drop-off” logo. These items can be included in your bag.

Note: This pilot is not connected to REDCycle  

• Any rigid containers, such as bottles, cans, takeaway containers
• Remove all small parts – no lids, bread tags, desiccant sachets, straws or balloons
• No compostable or degradable plastics or products with the labels 1, 3, 6 or 7
• No dirty or wet plastics and no food residue.

TIP: Your soft plastics collection bag is going to Australian manufacturers to make high quality products, so please ensure they only get clean and dry soft plastic. 

We want to know how you recycle. Fill out our recycling survey on our mySay website.

What happens when DIY project waste such as timber, metal, porcelain, soft plastics, and textiles goes into a recycling bin?

• Step 1: Your yellow bin is collected by the City of Ballarat.
• Step 2: Recyclables are delivered to Australian Paper Recovery (APR).
• Step 3: The first step once your recycling has arrived at APR is pre-screening to remove some of the contaminants.
• Step 4: Manual and mechanical/automated systems then sort your recycling into piles, and more contaminates are removed through this process.
• Step 5: DIY waste, and non-recyclable materials are separated and must be taken to landfill. 

Use your free waste vouchers and take them to the Ballarat Transfer Station when open. If it is closed due to restrictions, store them in your shed/trailer or backyard, until the transfer station re-opens.

• plastic bottles and containers from your kitchen, bathroom and laundry
• aluminium and tin cans and trays 
• clean paper and cardboard

• timber
• grass
• plastic bags wrapped around recyclables
• food waste
• electrical waste such as toy cars
• textiles, such as carpet, cushions, and clothes

• Stop putting timber, metal pipe, garden hoses, food waste, and soft plastics in your yellow-lidded recycling bin.
• Continue to take your glass bottles and jars to a pass on glass drop off facility located around Ballarat. 
• Continue to place clean, plastic containers from your kitchen, laundry and bathroom. These are the only plastics we can accept.
• Continue to place clean paper, cardboard, and cans in the yellow recycling bin.
• Rinse plastic bottles, containers, and cans before putting them in your recycling bin.
• Remember to keep your recyclables loose and do not place them inside plastic bags.

Why can’t I put timber in my recycle bin? 

Timber is not recyclable through our recycling system. You can take timber to the Ballarat Transfer Station for disposal.

When timber is put in the household recycling bin, it contaminates the load and creates additional sorting and processing of that load. It is important we keep improving the quality of the recyclables we send to our local manufacturer so we can get the most out of the recyclable products. 

Why can’t I put food waste in my recycle bin? 

Food waste is not recyclable and is unable to be made into other products in the way a plastic milk bottle can be remade. 

Food waste is a great resource for your garden if you can compost it in a backyard compost bin and use it as mulch in your garden. The City of Ballarat currently offers 40% compost products at Compost Revolution.

Otherwise, food waste needs to be placed in your red lidded garbage bin. 

Will the collection day for my recycling bin stay the same?

Yes. There will not be any change to the day your recycling bin is collected. 

The time of your collection may change slightly as the result of route changes, so It’s important to put your bin out the night before. 

Does contamination cost me more?

Your waste service in your annual rates charges includes your waste and recycling collection services. We include costs for disposing of contamination in the recycling service charge. 

There is a cost for contamination because if there is contamination in the load, we need to take that to landfill. All recycling loads are transported, sorted, and processed. These processes, plus needing to take contaminated loads to landfill, cost Council and ratepayers money. So, the more we can reduce the contamination, the less it costs to transport and process the unwanted material.
 

Picnic in the Park, the latest addition to the City of Ballarat summer event calendar, is set to return to Victoria Park on Australia Day, Friday 26 January 2024.  

Gather your family and friends for a relaxed afternoon with great food, fun and entertainment.

Bring a picnic or enjoy delicious food and drink offerings from a variety of local food trucks.  

Picnic in the Park will be held at Victoria Park (next to the inclusive playspace) on 26 January, from 11:30am to 3:30pm. 

Name: Picnic in the Park   

Date: Friday 26 January 2024 (Australia Day public holiday)

Time: 11.30am to 3.30pm   

Venue: Victoria Park (next to the inclusive playspace)