$2+ green waste fee to be introduced 2 August

Published on 08 June 2021

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Rockhampton Regional Council today announced that a small green waste fee will be introduced at waste facilities in the region from 2 August.

Waste and Recycling Councillor Shane Latcham said the fee will start at $2 for small loads, and most customers can expect to pay around $4.

“It is never an easy decision to introduce new fees, however this is a responsible financial decision for our community,” Cr Latcham said.

“Until now Council hasn’t charged customers directly for green waste disposal, however that doesn’t mean the service has been free. Those costs still have to be covered within our operating budget. 

“This way some of those expenses are covered by a small fee paid when people use the service.”

The same principle will see fees introduced for some white goods and a disposal fee for solar panels from 1 July.

“We have recently reviewed our fees and charges going into the new financial year,” Cr Latcham said.

“While our goal is always to keep our charges low and deliver the best service possible, like any business we do have to cover expenses.

“The biggest impact for most of our residents is that the minimum charge for self-haul waste is increasing from $5 to $8.

“While this might sound like a big jump, it does reflect the cost. Customer charges have been kept the same for the past two years but the expenses have gone up.

“If you don’t want to pay these fees, however, it may be a good opportunity to pay more attention to what you’re taking to the landfill.

“I think a lot of our customers would be really surprised at the number of things they can drop off for free, from tyre rims and microwaves to old computers and household goods.

“Next time you’re doing a tip run just have a chat to our staff in our recycling areas before heading to the weighbridge – you might be able to avoid self-haul fees altogether.”

Items that can be dropped off for free for domestic customers include:

  •  commingled household recyclables
  • bulk cardboard
  • e-waste
  • pre-loved household items in good condition
  • 20L domestic motor oil / cooking oil & their containers
  • ·vehicle batteries
  • 20L non-industrial architectural paint
  • flares & EPIRBS
  • gas bottles & cylinders
  • fire extinguishers (water, CO2 & powder only)
  • scrap metal