Waste Costs – What You Pay and Why
Waste services are not a profit-making service.
What you pay goes toward the cost of collecting, transporting and managing waste across Circular Head.
This includes everything from bin collections, to recycling, to running facilities like the landfill and transfer station.
How waste services are funded
Waste services are funded through a combination of:
- A Transfer Station contribution (through your rates)
- User-pays bin collection services (through your rates)
- Fees for some commercial activities
This approach is on the starting track to build a fair system - where people pay for the services they use. There is still some work to do though.
Current charges (2026-2027)
Kerbside bin services (per year)
- General waste (urban): $150 per bin
- General waste (rural): $170 per bin
- Recycling (yellow lid): $75 per bin
- FOGO (green lid): $88 per bin
Transfer Station
- Transfer Station contribution: $196 per property
This contribution helps fund the White Hills Waste Transfer Station, which is available for residents to use throughout the year. But we recognise that some people in the community don’t use this service but are paying this fee.
What these costs cover
Your waste charges help cover:
- Collecting your bins
- Transporting waste and recycling
- Processing recycling and FOGO
- Operating and maintaining facilities
- Meeting environmental and safety standards
- Planning for future waste services
Why costs are increasing
Waste services are becoming more expensive to deliver.
Some of the key reasons include:
The landfill levy
The State Government landfill levy applies to every tonne of waste sent to landfill.
- Introduced in 2022 at $20 per tonne
- Increased to $45.84 per tonne in 2025–26
- Will rise to $70 per tonne from 1 July 2026
This cost is paid by Council and is one of the biggest drivers of increasing waste costs.
Infrastructure and future planning
Some parts of the current system, including the Port Latta landfill, are nearing the end of their life.
Future waste will need to be transported further, increasing costs.
Investment is also needed to maintain and upgrade facilities like the White Hills Transfer Station.
Transport and processing
Circular Head is a regional area, which means:
- Longer transport distances
- Higher processing costs
- Fewer local facilities
All of these factors contribute to the overall cost of waste services.
What this means for you
The less waste we send to landfill, the more we can manage long-term costs.
Simple actions make a difference:
- Using the right bin
- Recycling correctly
- Using FOGO for food and garden waste
These everyday choices help reduce the cost of waste services over time.
Part of the bigger picture
Understanding waste costs is an important part of the Circular Head Waste Partnership.
By being clear about costs and challenges, we can:
- make informed decisions
- plan for the future
- work together on practical solutions
👉 Find out more about the Waste Partnership
Need more information?
For enquiries about waste charges or services, contact Council on (03) 6452 4800.