Proposed Waste & Recycling Service Changes - Q&A

Proposed Waste & Recycling Service Changes - Q&A

Council is undertaking community consultation for the

Proposed Waste & Recycling Service Changes

; general information for this community consultation is available at

Council's website - Share Your Feedback

.

Note: this community consultation closes: 5.00pm - Friday, 13 March 2026.

A list of common questions from community has been published below - as of 19/02/2026:

Q. Will the results of the survey be publicly available?

A.

The survey results are scheduled to be presented at the Council Meeting on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. These results will be publicly available, and the data will be deidentified (no personal information).

Q. Why is FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) being added to our bin services?

A.

The Victorian State Government has mandated the four-bin system (general waste, general recycling, glass recycling and FOGO) for all Victorian Councils, as part of the

Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021

. Council has introduced the first three bins and will be introducing the fourth bin - the FOGO bin, by 1 July 2027. Council is awaiting the service standards from the Victorian Government that will determine if this is a compulsory service (for all residential township services) or an optional service.

Q. Can I opt out of the glass recycling service? I do not use this ben and instead use the

Victorian Container Deposit Scheme

.

A.

The Victorian State Government has mandated the four-bin system (general waste, general recycling, glass recycling, and FOGO) for all Victorian Councils, as part of the

Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021

. The glass bin is a mandatory inclusion for all residential township services. You are unable to opt-out of the service if you live in a township.

Q. I do not generate very much waste or recycling - can I just take my waste and recycling to the transfer station?

A.

The Victorian State Government has mandated the four-bin system (general waste, general recycling, and glass recycling) for all Victorian Councils, as part of the

Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021

. This service is a mandatory inclusion for all residential township services. Rural services are optional (service level dependent on location). Commercial services are optional.

Q. Can Council provide a comparison list for the main changes to the waste and recycling charges?

A.

Please see the table below:

Service

2025/2026

2026/2027

Residential: Waste & Recycling Service Fee -

80L general waste, with recycling and glass.

$470.20

$517.22

Residential: Waste & Recycling Service Fee -

120L general waste, with recycling and glass.

$544.42

$598.86

Residential: Waste & Recycling Service Fee -

240L general waste, with recycling and glass.

$795.55

$875.11

Commercial: General Waste - 120L

$265.38

$398.07

Commercial: General Waste - 240L

$516.51

$774.77

Commercial: Mixed Recycling

$186.02

$279.03

Commercial: Glass Recycling

$93.02

$139.53

Rural: General Waste - 80L

$191.16

$210.28

Rural: General Waste - 120L

$265.38

$291.92

Rural: General Waste - 240L

$516.51

$568.16

Rural: Mixed Recycling

$186.02

$204.62

Rural: Glass Recycling

$93.02

$102.32

Transfer Station: General Waste - 1 cubic metre

$25.00

$45.00

Q. If I am a Seniors Card holder, do I get a hard waste collection for free?

A.

In short, no. Seniors card holders and disability card holders must pay for hard waste collection. You can schedule a pick-up, and Council staff will come to your property to remove your rubbish for a fee. The fee is $45 per cubic metre. Council will set specific limits and criteria for what it is allowed to collect.

Q. Why are only Yaapeet and Patchewollock residents entitled to a fee-for-service hard waste collection?

A.

Starting July 1 2026, Council plans to end the free skip bin service, that operates every two months in both townships. This service started when local transfer stations closed. To provide fair waste disposal options across the Shire, a fee-based hard waste service will replace the skip bins, ensuring Yaapeet and Patchewollock residents can dispose of waste even if they cannot reach a transfer station.

Q. What townships have mandatory bin collection services?

A.

Speed, Turriff, Tempy, Patchewollock, Lascelles, Woomelang, Hopetoun, Yaapeet, Beulah, Brim, Warracknabeal, Minyip, Murtoa, and Rupanyup.

Q. Is green waste still free with the fee-for-service hard waste collection?

A.

If requesting a hard waste service, regardless of what is collected, a fee is charged. Therefore, residents must pay to dispose of green waste via the hard waste collection service. It remains free if the green waste is taken directly to the transfer station.

Q. What defines a "hard waste" collection?

A.

Hard waste refers to large, bulky, or heavy household items that cannot fit into standard kerbside waste bins and require specialised collection. It typically comprises of durable goods that are broken or no longer needed. It also includes green waste (tree branches, clippings, etc). Items that will be collected which are included in the $45 per cubic metre fee include: furniture, white goods (fridges, washes), timber, larger items of e-waste, and scrap metal. Transfer station fees will still apply for some items such as mattresses, car batteries, and car tyres. Refer to the Transfer Station Information Brochure for more information. Quantity limits will apply.

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