Residential waste disposal allowances and fees

From 6 October, residents will have 12 free visits to mainland Recycling and Waste Centres per vehicle, per financial year. After that, charges will apply. Charges will also apply to the disposal of bricks and concrete, clean soil, mattresses, tyres & timber.

Charges will be paid at the gatehouse on arrival. 

These items do not count toward your annual allowance and can be dropped off free of charge: 

✅ Asbestos & suspected asbestos* 

✅ Cardboard 

✅ Donatable clothing^

✅  E-waste

✅ Gas bottles (LPG BBQ, butane & refill — must be empty) 

✅ Hazardous waste and chemicals*^ 

✅ Lead acid batteries 

✅ Motor oil 

✅ Paint & paint packaging*^ (Paintback program) 

✅ RecycleWorld drop-off items and visits 

✅ Scrap metal 

* Within current limits and conditions

^ Redland Bay only

Note: If landfill or green waste is brought in with the above material, this will still count towards the free visit allowance.

No, we will count how many times you visit at the gatehouse using the number plate on your passenger vehicle. 

Visits are counted per vehicle for landfill waste and green waste using the vehicle number plate. 

The majority of households will remain unaffected and will be able to continue to use the Recycling and Waste Centres as they have always done. A recent review showed that 91 per cent of residents who visited the mainland Recycling and Waste Centres visited less than 12 times a year, meaning this will only impact high usage vehicles (approximately 9 per cent of vehicles) who visit more than 12 times. In addition to this, only a small number of households drop off the specific waste types that are deemed chargeable. 

Due to the rising costs of managing the cities waste, the waste utility charge will not go down in the 2026/27 financial year and is unlikely to go down in future years. However, by having those who visit more often paying for visits more than 12 times a year, charges will not go up as much as they could have. For example, in the 2026-27 financial year, instead of rising by an estimated 24% the waste utility charge, has risen by 18%.

From time to time, Council will announce approved programs or activities where an exemption may be applied for all visitors during a set period of time. These may include:

• Declared natural disaster events, storm events or other waste generating events as defined by Council and/or the Queensland State Government for a set period as defined and approved by Council. 
• Where identified and announced on an ad hoc basis, seasonal initiatives such as storm preparation or clear up events to assist in removal of targeted waste streams which would pose a risk to public safety as defined by Council.
• Where identified and announced on an ad hoc basis, other waste management or clearance activities explicitly identified and authorised by Council to mitigate hazards (such as asbestos sand) or to support community safety as defined by Council.

Council may consider an exemption application in the following circumstances: 

• Where the estate of a Redlands resident is required to dispose of items due to death or serious illness a one-off exemption can be requested.
• Where a resident is required to dispose of waste illegally dumped on their property boundary.
• Residents generating non-hazardous medical waste, where an additional kerbside waste bin is not sufficient for the needs of the household.
• Residents who use a short-term rental truck for household waste transport.

No exemptions will be applied for the disposal of bricks & concrete, clean soil, mattresses, timber & tyres, timber (except where illegal dumping has occurred). Vehicles over 4.5 tonnes GCVM will not be exempt. 

 If you qualify for an exemption, you can apply using the online form from September 2026.

The online application form will be available from September 2026.

Commercial operators who are also residents who only own a commercial vehicle suitable for the transportation of waste and currently use commercial waiver vouchers, will still be able to access the mainland sites to dispose of their residential waste. Current waivers will remain in place until the end of the existing expiry date. Each operator will receive 12 vouchers once their next application is approved. 

Waste utility charges will not go down in the 2026/27 financial year and are unlikely to go down in future years. However, by having those who visit more often paying for visits more than 12 times a year, charges will not go up as much as they could have. For example, in the 2026-27 financial year, instead of rising by an estimated 24% the waste utility charge, has risen by 18%.

Effective 6 October 2026:

Landfill (mixed waste) & green waste: Free for the first 12 visits, per vehicle, per financial year. Charges apply after the 12th visit.

Specific waste types:  bricks & concrete, clean soil, mattresses, timber and tyres. The fees will be payable at the gatehouse upon arrival.

The prices will depend on the volume of waste brought in and will be published under the Register of Fees and at the gatehouse (once available).

Yes. Any domestic waste types (landfill) or self-haul green waste that is brought to the mainland Recycling and Waste Centres, even if it includes the non-counted waste types, will be added to the vehicle count.

We encourage visitors to sort their load before they arrive and separate out their material to ensure they maximise their annual free visits.

The count of visits to the mainland Recycling and Waste Centres and charges for specific waste types will start on 6 October 2026. For the 2026/27 financial year the count will end on 30 June 2027 and the annual count will restart again on 1 July 2027 and end at the end of each financial year thereafter (unless changes are announced). 

The number of free annual visits allocated is applied per vehicle. If you don’t have a vehicle or trailer to take the waste to the Recycling and Waste Centre you can engage a paid service provider or tradesperson to assist you with disposing of your waste. Under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act, commercial contractors are required by law to pay commercial rates which includes the relevant waste levy charges.

Pensioners, Gold Card and residents with a confirmation benefits letter are able to access the STAR community pick up service which provides a service of picking up three large or bulky items for a one-off pick up per financial year. This service will not incur a charge.

All residents are able to access the Recycling and Waste Centres to dispose of landfill and green waste up to 12 times free of charge. The free annual visit allowance can be used to dispose of green waste. 

To help to maximise your free visit allowance we encourage visitors to fill their trailers to reduce the number of visits they need to make or get one or multiple green waste bins where green waste is collected from households on a fortnightly basis. Other options to reduce the number of trips needed include mulching or composting on site.

If you are one of the nine per cent of vehicles who visit higher than the average household and more than 12 times per financial year with the landfill or green waste, you will be charged Recycling and Waste Centre residential waste fees after your 12^th visit. 

This change is only applicable to residents visiting the mainland recycling and waste centres at Birkdale and Redland Bay.

• Plan your visit – save time by separating materials and sorting correctly before arriving.
• Maximise your load – try to hold off visiting until you have a full load
• Put your wheelie bins to good use – smaller, lighter loads can be managed through the kerbside wheelie bin service including an optional kerbside green waste collection service with multiple bins allowed. 

Commercial and Industrial Waste is defined as waste generated from activities including, but not limited to:

• An activity carried out at domestic premises under a commercial arrangement
• An activity carried out by a charity or church
• Providing educational services

Under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act, commercial contractors are required by law to pay for the disposal of commercial waste which includes the Queensland Governments waste disposal levy.

For example, if you pay for a gardener or trades person then commercial waste disposal charges will apply to the operator transporting your waste.

Along with other non-counted waste types, visits to RecycleWorld at Redland Bay or dropping off RecycleWorld items at Birkdale or Redland Bay (if brought in without other waste material included in the annual allowance limits), will not count towards your 12 free visit annual allowance. 

Island communities have fewer waste diversion options available to them and operationally, due to infrastructure restrictions, we are not able to facilitate this change.  

Your first visit to the Recycling and Waste Centre will be allowed should this occur, however, you will need to advise council through the online Change of Registration and Ownership Form (available from September 2026). You will need to provide proof of change of ownership.

Birkdale and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centres are cashless facilities.  Payment can be made by EFTPOS or Credit Card.

If you have feedback, contact Customer Service on 07 3829 8999 or via email at rcc@redland.qld.gov.au. If you have a complaint that can’t be resolved, please see Council’s complaint processes and complaints management policy.

I only visit a few times a year to bring in mixed waste and green waste. What does this mean for me?

12 visits or less: No charge for landfill (mixed waste) and green waste. Charges apply after your 12th visit. 

If you only visit a few times a year (12 times or less) and you’re bringing in some mixed waste and green waste then there won’t be any change. You can still visit the Recycling and Waste Centres without having to pay until after your 12^th visit. 

I’m only bringing in material that is on your ‘Recyclable’ list which includes: cardboard, e-waste, gas bottles, household recyclables, lead acid batteries, oil - motor and cooking, paint and paint packaging, Recycle-World drop off items and visits, scrap metal and donatable clothing. I'm also bringing in some asbestos and hazardous waste. Does this count towards my annual free visit allowance or do I need to pay?

Specific waste types: No charge

Not counted towards your annual free visit allowance.

These materials won’t be added to your annual allowance as long as they are brought in on their own and there is no other mixed waste or green waste included in the load. If there is mixed waste or green waste included in the load, then this trip will count towards your annual 12 visit allowance.

I’m bringing in a mattress and some tyres (which are on fees list) along with some general mixed waste and green waste.  What happens here?

Specific waste types: Each material type and quantity will be charged as per the Register of Fees.

Free visit annual allowance: One visit counted

From 6 October, the mattress and the tyres will incur an up-front fee at the gatehouse. These fees will be shown at the gatehouse and can be reviewed on Councils Register of Fees. 

The mixed general waste and green waste will count as one visit towards your annual free visit allowance and no fees will apply for this waste type up until your 12th visit. Separate fees will apply after your 12th visit.

I’m only bringing in some clean soil and bricks (which are on the specific waste types list) from my home. Does this trip count towards my annual free visit allowance?

Specific waste types: Each material type and quantity will be charged as per the Register of Fees.

Not counted towards your free visit allowance.

As you are only bringing in waste on the specific waste types list (and not mixed or green waste) this trip won’t count towards your annual free visit allowance, however you will need to pay for the soil and bricks.

I've reached my 12 free visit annual allowance. What happens?

Free visit allowance reached. Fees now payable.

As you get closer to the end of your 12 free visit allowance, you’ll be notified at the gatehouse. Once you pass the annual allowance, fees will be payable on any mixed / green waste you bring in as well as all future waste until the end of the financial year. Your annual allowance for your vehicle will re-set at the start of every financial year.

Not counted towards your free visit allowance.

If visiting RecycleWorld (Redland Bay) to either drop-off items or to shop, as long as you’re not bringing in any mixed or green waste, your trip won’t be counted towards your annual free visit allowance.