Landfill and Waste Facilities

Waste Facilities Map

Rockhampton Regional Council operates a network of waste facilities to support the region’s waste management needs. The primary site, located at 152 Lakes Creek Road, The Common, is a comprehensive Waste Management Facility offering services to both commercial and domestic customers. This facility includes a scientifically engineered and environmentally licensed landfill, and specific areas designed to accept a wide range of waste types such as construction, demolition, commercial, and industrial waste. With stringent environmental controls in place, the site prioritises resource recovery and waste diversion, helping to extend the landfill’s operational life and protect the environment for future generations.

In addition to the Lakes Creek Road facility, Council operates six other waste facilities across the region. These sites are not landfills, but serve as local drop-off points for domestic quantities of waste and recycling. Waste deposited at these locations is temporarily held before being transferred to the Lakes Creek Road landfill or to specialised recycling facilities, depending on the waste type. These facilities provide convenient access for residents to responsibly dispose of household waste, and each has specific guidelines regarding accepted and restricted materials, which can be found on their individual facility pages linked below.

All waste facilities remain open during holiday periods, with the exception of Christmas Day. Please refer to the facility listings below for specific opening hours.

Fees and Charges

View the complete Fees and Charges schedule for Rockhampton Regional Council including waste disposal or please refer to the following resources:

Waste load and quantity definitions - Commercial vs Domestic 

Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility accepts both domestic and commercial waste.

Our rural waste facilities at Alton Downs, Bajool, Bouldercombe, Bushley, Gracemere, and Mount Morgan, accept domestic waste only.

Commercial Waste Loads

A waste load is classified as commercial if any of the following apply:

  • The waste is generated from a business activity, or
  • The person delivering the waste is being paid to do so, or
  • The waste does not originate from your principal place of residence. This includes any waste delivered in vehicles displaying business signage or registered for commercial use.
Domestic Waste Loads

A waste load is classified as domestic if:

  • It originates from your principal place of residence.

Note: Final classification of loads is at the discretion of gatehouse staff at each facility.

Waste Levy

The Queensland Government’s waste levy is designed to reduce landfill usage and encourage recycling and resource recovery. It applies to most waste disposed of in landfills across designated levy zones, including the Rockhampton Region. While the levy targets commercial and industrial waste, households are not directly impacted—kerbside collections and self-hauled domestic waste remain exempt from levy. The levy supports Queensland’s transition to a circular economy by promoting more sustainable waste management practices. Learn more about the levy and how it affects waste disposal on the Queensland Government website. 

Businesses and residents are encouraged to explore ways to reduce waste, separate waste streams and recycle more to help reduce waste disposal costs.
For free tailored advice on reducing business waste, energy and water, visit ecoBiz (www.ecobiz.cciq.com.au)

The Queensland Government provides exemption for certain charitable recycling entities that meet an eligibility criteria. The National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisation (NACRO) is managing this exemption process, to find out more view the information sheet here or visit their website.

Top tips to reduce waste disposal costs

By encouraging reuse, recycling and resource recovery at home and in your business, you can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill. Reducing your waste can save you money, and benefit the environment.

Everybody can reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill. Separate your general waste from recyclables and you will save! By using the Community Recycling Centre before disposing in landfill, you can save money on disposal fees. Free disposal of many recyclable items is available to residents of the Rockhampton Region. Disposal by customers from outside the Region may not be accepted (with exception to the Paintback program which accepts materials from any Central Queensland residents regardless of which Council area.)

Here are some handy tips to reduce your disposal costs. Drop off options vary between waste facilities so if you are unsure, ask a friendly staff member or check on the Waste Facilities page.

Tip 1 - Use the free recycling drop off area

Check with staff before dropping off the following items for free:

  • Commingled recyclables (glass bottles, cans, plastic containers, paper)
  • Bulk cardboard
  • Paint (architectural paint, undercoats, deck coatings, stains, varnishes)
  • Domestic cooking or motor oils (20L quantity or less)
  • Fire extinguishers (water, CO2 and powder only)
  • Flares and EPIRBs
  • Glass bottles and cylinders
  • Vehicle batteries (lead acid)
  • E-waste: Desktop & laptop computers, monitors, keyboard, cables, drives, printers, scanners and televisions
  • drumMUSTER approved clean Ag and Vet chemical containers

 

Tip 2 - Donate your pre-loved household items

Good condition pre-loved household items can be dropped off for free & bought at bargain prices at Reviva Ibis, the reuse shop, at the Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility or Megz reuse shops at Gracemere and Mount Morgan Waste Transfer Stations. 

Items include: clothing, gym equipment, kitchenware, furniture, tools, building supplies, gardening or boating supplies, refurbished computers, children’s toys & bicycles, books & DVDs, lawn mowers.

Acceptance is at the discretion of staff.

 

Tip 3 - Use the FREE scrap metal area

Drop off small scrap light metal items in the Recycling Area or large items in the Metal Resource Recovery Area - ask staff onsite which is preferred.

 

Scrap light metal that can be dropped off for free includes: stoves, microwaves, fence panels, roller doors, metal offcuts, car parts (no oil), furniture frames, roof sheeting etc. A small fee applies for some white goods, including fridges, freezers and air conditioners.

Tip 4 - Separate your green waste

Clean loads of green waste (hedge trimmings, branches, palm fronds, tree trunks & stumps, leaf litter, lawn clippings) can be disposed of at a much lower rate than general waste. Green waste is accepted at all waste facilities.

Council conducts inspections of all incoming Green Waste loads. Customers identified as attempting to dispose general waste (including timber) within a Green Waste load may be charged at a general waste rate for the entire load.

 

Tip 5 - Use the FREE E-waste drop off

Protect Your Privacy, Recycle Responsibly

Before you recycle your e-waste, please take a moment to erase your personal data.

E-waste, such as TVs, computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches, printers, and other electronic devices, can contain sensitive personal information. To protect your privacy and the environment, please follow these simple steps:

1. Erase Your Data:

  • Back up important files: Transfer any valuable data to a safe location, like an external hard drive.
  • Sign out of online accounts: Log out of all your online accounts to prevent unauthorised access.
  • Factory reset or securely erase: Use your device's built-in settings or a specialised software to erase all data.

2. Remove Batteries:

  • Safely remove batteries: Disconnect and remove any removable batteries. Dispose of them at designated battery recycling points.

    3. Recycle Responsibly:

  • Domestic quantities: We accept domestic quantities of e-waste at all Waste facilities.
  • Large quantities: Businesses and individuals with large quantities of e-waste should enquire and book a collection or drop-off time.

By following these steps, you can help protect your privacy and contribute to a sustainable future.

Accepting at all Rockhampton Regional Waste Facilities in domestic quantities. Businesses and other large quantities of e-waste only accepted at Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility and require a booking by calling Customer Service.

E-waste includes:

  • Desk top and laptop computers
  • Monitors
  • Mice and Keyboards
  • Cables
  • Drives
  • Printers, Scanners, Photocopiers 
  • Televisions
  • Mobile Phones
  • Tablets and other smart devices

Tip 6 - Label your bins so everyone can separate to save!

Use the free to download labels below so everyone in your workplace knows which bin is for what.

Recyclable items, when collected separately from general waste, are free to dispose of at your nearest waste transfer station.

Use our free to download artwork to label bins in your kitchen at home.

 

 

 

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