The true cost of your waste utility charge

Waste is one of the fastest-growing costs for councils. As landfill space becomes more limited across South-east Queensland, disposal costs continue to increase. Because Redland City Council doesn't own and operate its own active landfill, general waste is transported outside the city. Our waste costs include transport, fuel, landfill disposal and waste levy costs.

A landfill is a form of waste disposal at a designated site where residual waste materials which can’t be recycled or composted are compacted and covered with layers of soil and plastic. We can’t ensure its only residual waste that’s disposed of this way which is why sorting our waste at the kerbside bin and Recycling and Waste Centres is so important. Watch here to find out more.

Waste placed in red-lid bins and mixed waste taken to Recycling and Waste Centres is transported to a landfill, where it's buried. All the materials disposed of this way are essentially lost as a resource.

Around 50% of material in red-lid bins could be recycled or composted instead, including green waste.

Every tonne sent to landfill means:

• Higher transport costs including fuel, barge transport, vehicle maintenance and driver time
• Higher landfill disposal fees as landfill space becomes increasingly scarce across South-east Queensland
• Higher Queensland waste levy charges, with the levy projected to add around $111 per household to the waste utility charge by 2030
• Lost opportunities to recycle, compost and recover valuable resources

In Queensland and all other states, councils pay a Waste Disposal Levy, a state government tax on waste sent to landfill. It’s in place to incentivise reducing waste and recycling more. The Queensland State Government reinvest a large portion of the levy funds back into council initiatives, education, recycling grants and new waste technologies. 

Your waste utility charge funds much more than weekly bin collection.

Transportation and disposal of 60,000 tonnes of landfill waste

Processing more than 58,000 tonnes of recyclables and green waste annually

Operating eight Recycling and Waste Centres, supporting ~500,000 visits each year

Managing 16 different waste streams

More than 17,000 customer requests and enquiries annually covering bin repairs, maintenance and education enquiries

Recycling education, sustainability and community programs

Assistance services for eligible residents

Environmental management, planning and administration

The landfill remediation charge on your rates notice is separate to the waste utility charge and helps to fund the ongoing remediation and monitoring of former landfill sites.

Our waste strategy focuses on reducing landfill dependency and managing costs into the future.

Investing in better recycling infrastructure, including a new Materials Recovery Facility
Providing residents with options to increase their recycling capacity and divert more green waste from landfill, including the opportunity to save around $50 per year on their waste utility charge by choosing a smaller red-lid bin.
Delivering education and recycling programs to support residents reducing waste and contamination
Making Recycling and Waste Centre services fairer to reduce pressure on the waste utility charge
Working with regional partners to investigate future alternatives to landfill, such as Regional Energy from Waste facilities

Make the most of the essential waste and recycling services Council provides. Reducing your waste, using the right bin and dropping off hazardous waste all helps to keep costs down for our city. 

Recycle more and reduce waste
Buy only what you need, reuse, repair and donate items where possible, and use your recycling and green waste bins correctly.

Compost your garden and food waste
Keep organics out of landfill by using a green waste bin and compost where possible to keep food and garden waste out of the red-lid bin.

Think of the red-lid bin as the last option
Take a closer look at what's going in your red-lid bin to see if there's any reusable or recyclable alternatives. Search Recycle Mate for more recycling options nearby.

Make the most of our Recycling and Waste Centres
Separate materials before visiting and recycle or recover as much as possible rather than disposing of mixed waste to landfill.