Government figures revealing that Victoria’s existing landfills will reach capacity within the next decade should alarm us all. This is not a distant problem for future generations.
It is a looming crisis that will affect our neighbourhoods, our air quality, and our climate. For too long, Victoria has relied on the illusion that burying rubbish is a permanent solution. But landfills are not bottomless pits — they are ticking time bombs.
The problem is not merely technical, it is cultural. We live in a society of convenience, where disposable packaging and single-use products dominate our shelves. The “out of sight, out of mind” mentality has enabled industries and households alike to continue producing mountains of waste without considering where it ends up. Landfills have masked the consequences — until now.
Successive governments have promoted recycling, yet the results remain underwhelming. Recycling rates plateau, contamination of bins undermines progress, and councils often lack resources to enforce change. The state government talks about a circular economy, but talk alone will not prevent landfills from overflowing. Real solutions require systemic shifts: mandatory source separation of waste, substantial investment in recycling plants, and financial disincentives for businesses that continue to treat landfill as the cheapest option.
There is also a justice dimension to this debate. Landfills are not spread evenly across the state. They are disproportionately located near working-class communities and regional areas, who bear the brunt of pollution, odours, and health risks. Asking these communities to carry the burden while wealthier suburbs throw away more and recycle less is both unfair and unsustainable.
Victoria must also confront a difficult truth: recycling alone will not solve the waste crisis. A serious conversation about waste-to-energy facilities, when governed by strict environmental standards, is long overdue. Countries across Europe have successfully used such technology to reduce landfill dependence while generating power. It is controversial, but doing nothing is worse.
The landfill issue should be a political wake-up call. Climate action cannot be separated from waste policy. If Victoria is to present itself as a leader in sustainability, it must show the courage to reform a broken system and challenge industries that profit from it. Citizens, too, must step up. Responsible waste disposal is not just a duty of government; it begins in our homes.
We are standing at a crossroads. Either Victoria becomes a model for sustainable waste management, or it drowns in its own garbage. The choice is ours — but the window for action is rapidly closing.
