The Victorian state government has announced it would provide a $13 million package for councils and industry to support kerbside collection, with companies such as Visy increasing their costs to receive recycling.

However the assistance will only be available until June 30, and councils will be required to meet any increase in costs onwards.

NEWRRG executive officer Cydoni Edwards said the group was working with government on the issue.

“The assistance package is there to assist councils and we’re working through it,” she said.

“Discussions are currently taking place to ensure that package is of value.”

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Ms Edwards said some councils would be impacted more, depending on how closely their contracted recycling companies were aligned with China.

“The level of impact varies depending on the markets where recyclables go,” she said.

“It’s really difficult to say, some have been impacted and some haven’t.”

The Municipal Association of Victoria warned councils rates would need to rise between 1.1 per cent and 2.5 per cent, but it’s expected there could be increases of up to five per cent.

Asked at a Wodonga Ratepayers Association earlier this month what it would mean for the city, Councillor Tim Quilty said it would not impact ratepayers.

And Indigo Shire Mayor Jenny O’Connor said in the short-term there would be no rate change, with council yet to make a decision on any rise.

“At this stage our contract is continuing as usual and the main message is people need to keep recycling but as much as possible, reduce use of unnecessary packaging,” she said.

“There are implications into the future and we’re looking at this in a consolidated way with other councils.

“The best thing we can do is actually not create waste in the first place.”