Invercargill councillors have expressed a preference for separating glass from regular recycling amid concern the city has become an "outlier".

Under the council's current system, a 240 litre recycling bin is collected fortnightly which mixes glass with other materials.

But change could be coming as part of a region-wide review of waste collection which includes a public consultation.

Invercargill’s consultation document is likely to include a preferred option of adding a new 80 litre glass bin to the status quo of weekly general waste collection and fortnightly recycling.

Removing glass was the “absolute priority” for deputy mayor Tom Campbell, whose view was backed by others.

Coucillor Lesley Soper said the city was beginning to look like an outlier for how it handled glass compared to other parts of the country.

“It’s been quite well publicised at our recycling centre that we’re getting various accidents, people getting cuts, lots of problems with glass,” she said.

Soper also felt the council should ask the public for their thoughts on handling green waste — another topic discussed at the meeting.

An option for including an organics bin will also be consulted on which would add $35 to the current household cost of $376 if implemented.

The appetite for that bin was not as strong among councillors.

Meanwhile, an additional glass bin came at no extra cost to the status quo because separating glass from other recycling improved costs, council general manager infrastructure Erin Moogan said.

The preferred options for consultation are yet to be confirmed by full council, with consultation set to run through the month of August.

Other councils which will consult include Southland District Council and Gore District Council.

Final decisions landed on by the three councils will be delivered by WasteNet — the councils' shared solid waste service.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air