Working together on the future of waste in Circular Head
Earlier this year, Council launched the Circular Head Waste Partnership, an ongoing conversation with our community about waste, recycling and the decisions we need to make for the future. We said we'd keep people informed, listen to community feedback and work together on practical solutions as waste costs continue to rise.
What have we learned so far?
Our first Waste Partnership survey asked what makes it difficult for people to reduce the waste they send to landfill. Access to recycling was the biggest barrier identified and almost one in three respondents told us they weren't sure whether the recycling they put in their bin actually gets recycled. Since then, we've been looking at ways to improve access to recycling and communicating more about where our recycling goes after it leaves Circular Head. Read what we heard form our first survey.
Why are we talking about waste again now?
The cost of managing waste continues to increase. Here's what's happening and what we're doing in Circular Head:
- Landfill costs are rising. Tasmania's landfill levy is currently $70.56 per tonne of waste (roughly the weight of a small car). That's before transport and other waste management costs are added.
- Port Latta landfill is closing at the end of 2026. Our general waste currently goes there, but in the future it will need to be transported to landfill sites much further away, adding to costs.
- White Hills Waste Transfer Station will become more important.
- FOGO and recycling are becoming increasingly important to help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
- Recycle Rewards is helping keep eligible drink containers out of our general waste and recycling streams.
- We're looking at ways to improve access to recycling so more materials can be recovered rather than sent to landfill.
- We're exploring options for kerbside general waste collection to provide greater certainty around future costs and service delivery, helping us plan with more confidence.
The next thing we need to do is plan for the future of White Hills Waste Transfer Station.
With the Council-owned Port Latta landfill site closing, White Hills Waste Transfer Station will play a bigger role in how waste is managed in Circular Head. This is because General waste will need to come through White Hills before being transported to another landfill site. Council is planning upgrades to support this transition, with a focus on improving the separation and recovery of materials that can be recycled, reused or diverted from landfill. As part of these upgrades, we're also considering what infrastructure may be needed in the future, including a weighbridge.
Below are some FAQ's and a short survey that we invite you to take. There are no changes being proposed to how people pay to use White Hills at this stage. We're interested in understanding what our community knows about the current system and what people think is fair. We simply want to know what matters to you.
A weighbridge is planned at the entrance to the general waste area of the facility. Vehicles using that area would be weighed when they arrive and weighed again after they unload. The difference tells us how much general waste has been dropped off. The information collected would help Council understand how much waste is coming into the facility and plan for future waste services.
A weighbridge could also support different funding models in the future, including charging by weight. However, no decision has been made about how waste services will be funded and including a weighbridge in the design does not mean charging by weight will be introduced.
There are a few different approaches being used across the region. Central Coast Council is upgrading its Lobster Creek Resource Recovery Centre, including new weighbridges. Burnie City Council uses a weigh-in, weigh-out system, with eligible residents currently able to dispose of up to 100kg of household waste per visit before additional charges apply. Devonport's Spreyton Waste Transfer Station also uses weighbridges and charges general waste by weight.
Councils use weighbridges in different ways. Having a weighbridge doesn't automatically mean charging by weight. It simply provides better information and gives councils more options when making decisions about waste services in the future.
At the moment, all properties in Circular Head pay a flat annual charge of $196 through Council rates for access to the White Hills Waste Transfer Station. This charge is the same whether someone uses the facility regularly, occasionally or not at all. This is separate from charges for kerbside general waste, recycling and FOGO services. There are also separate fees for some items at White Hills such as car bodies and tyres as well as commercial fees - see the fees and charges here.
As we plan for the future of the transfer station, we're also thinking about how the service should be funded in the years ahead. This raises an important question: Is a flat annual charge across all properties the fairest way to fund White Hills, or should people have more opportunity to pay based on how much they use the service?
There are different ways the White Hills Waste Transfer Station could be funded in the future. We could continue with a flat annual charge to every ratepayer. We could introduce a user-pays system. Or we could use a combination of the two. Each approach has advantages and challenges.
Should people who use the service more contribute more? Should people have greater ability to reduce what they pay by recycling and keeping material out of landfill? How important is it that everyone has access to an affordable waste service? What would a fair system look like for Circular Head?