Council removes $10 domestic green waste fee for residents

Lockyer Valley Regional Council has voted to remove the $10 domestic green waste disposal charge until a decision is made on the future of green waste management in the region.

Council’s Fees and Charges 2025-26, which took effect on 1 July 2025, originally included a new $10 charge to dispose of domestic green waste greater than 240L (wheelie bin size) and up to a standard trailer load, to help cover the rising cost of processing the green waste.

Portfolio Councillor for Waste Management, Cr Julie Reck said the changes, adopted at yesterday’s Council meeting, would come into effect immediately.

“This fee has been on hold since it came into effect on 1 July and no one was charged while we waited for this review.

“In the past, it was free to dispose of up to an 8x5 trailer load of uncontaminated green waste at our transfer stations per day, and this decision means that will once again be the case,” Cr Reck said.

Cr Reck said Council was still actively exploring the feasibility of an opt-in green waste service.

“We’re still looking at our options to reduce the amount of organic waste that’s going into landfill, including investigating the possibility of an opt-in garden organics service.

“Unfortunately, the costs of collecting and processing all types of waste continue to rise and Council has limited ability to absorb those increases.

“Our message to our community is that we see the cost-of-living pressures, and felt a review of the fee was the obvious next step given we have not yet made a decision about a green bin service, as we had hoped.

“By completely removing the fee for now, we’re taking a small but important step to support our community,” Cr Reck said.

For more information, visit www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/waste-facilities or call 1300 005 872.