Perhaps the first big test for Ballarat's new recycling plan will be the capacity of the new glass drop-off sites across the city, after 10,000 Grand Final parties.
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The new plan, where glass cannot be put into the yellow-topped bins, comes into effect the first Monday after the AFL Grand Final.
Bottle shop employees said customers remained sceptical - at the busy Sebastopol Bottle-O, Brendan Ryan said he had been hearing people's opinions about the issue all day.
"They're not too happy about that, I've said to a couple of people, as of September 30 you can't put them in the bin, and they aren't happy at all," he said.
"People prefer stubbies.
"At this stage, it seems to be an inconvenience - I don't see why they don't have it like South Australia and the Northern Territory, the five and 10 cent return."
His boss, Bottle-O owner and manager Peter Spratling, said he had noted more craft beers being released in cans, and sports clubs were buying them in bulk too.
"There's more in it, and they're easy to get rid of," he said.
The craft brewers themselves are thinking creatively - Cubby Haus Brewing, in Mount Pleasant, is considering a suggestion from a customer to clean and re-use bottles, like home brewers do.
"We'll watch what happens with council," owner Malcolm Sachs said.
READ MORE: What is the future of our glass recycling?
"We're big on sustainability, we like to reduce our footprint where we can."
City of Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh said she hoped the message would get through, so glass could stay out of landfill.
"Make sure you choose the right team first, barrack hard, and really remember how important it is to separate glass," she said.
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