East Gippsland Shire’s waste facilities saw no fee increase at the gate in the Budget 2022/23.

The fee for disposal of mattresses has been reduced (see General Waste below).

Glass recycling bins have been introduced to all of our transfer stations. Our waste contractor, Tambo, will be collecting glass which will then be turned into a fine sand and used in the creation of roads and footpaths.

Last year, Council removed fees on domestic recyclables that are contaminant-free, paper, cardboard, polystyrene, and electronic waste – think items with a plug, battery or cord. By making recyclable items free, Council hopes to encourage better recycling practices in East Gippsland – keeping waste out of landfill and seeing products reused.

Overall, the fees and charges were also simplified last year. For example, the fees for various types of trailers have been removed, and everything larger than a small trailer load is now charged per tonne or cubic metre (depending on which site is visited).

Council’s website also has great information on what can, and can’t, be recycled. The A – Z of Waste explains whether items go in the general waste, organic waste, recycling bin or other recycling program.

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Waste levy charge

Environment Protection Authority Victoria is imposing an 18% increase to landfill levies.

This applies to all waste disposed at landfills. This increase will equate to almost $1 million in additional costs for the operation of Council’s landfill in the 2022/23 financial year. The increase in fuel costs is also contributing to the increase in the cost of Council’s waste operations.

To address the cost increases, Council is taking a different approach to the cost of waste in 2022/23 by introducing a $37-per-property levy.

Rather than increasing the cost per item disposed at waste sites,

Council believes a $37 levy per property is more effective and equitable. This will encourage residents to dispose of waste responsibly at waste sites and help with illegal dumping.

To support this, Council has not increased the price for residential kerbside waste collection or the fees at waste site gates, which would have otherwise seen a 7% increase. Council will also reduce the cost to dispose of mattresses, as these large items are commonlydumped in public areas creating environmental hazards and significant clean-up costs.

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