Most disposal fees at East Gippsland Shire’s waste facilities will increase by five per cent from Thursday, July 1, following Council’s adoption of the 2021-22 Budget.
Council pays a landfill levy to the Victorian Government for each tonne of waste entering landfill. The levy’s increase for 2021-22 is a significant 61% increase – a cost that Council cannot absorb.
The municipal landfill levy in 2021-22 is $52.95 a tonne, up from $33.03 last year. The landfill levy for commercial waste is $93.19, up from $57.76 last year. Council expects to pay $1.73 million in landfill levies in the 2021-22 financial year.
It is for this reason that Council has had to increase waste fees by five per cent across the board.
However, there is also some good news in the adopted fees, with fees removed on some items, including 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 have been simplified. For example, the fees for various types of trailers have been removed, and everything larger than a small trailer load will be 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.
These fees are effective from 1 July 2021.
Single: $27
Double or Queen: $38
King: $49
Sorted load
Unsorted load
Green Waste
It is free to dispose of your green waste under 0.3m (30 cm) in diameter.
Over 0.3m diameter: $182 cubic metre or $256 tonne
Recycling
It is free to dispose of recyclables. Recycling is paper, flattened cardboard, glass containers, steel cans and hard plastic containers.
Recycling must be free of contamination. Please remove all packaging and strapping.
Electronic Waste
It is free to dispose of electronic waste.
This is any item with a battery, plug or cord. Electronic waste has been banned from entering landfill since 2019.
Gas bottle
Disposal of a gas bottle (10kg or smaller): $10
Steel and white goods
These items can be disposed of free of charge.
Batteries (sorted)
Disposal of sorted batteries is free.
Motor oil
It is free to dispose of motor oil.
Polystyrene
It is free to dispose of polystyrene.
Dead animals can only be disposed of at Bairnsdale Landfill.
Small animal: $9
This includes dog, cat. lamb, calf under 4 months.
Large animal: $240 tonne
This includes sheep, cow, horse.