Green waste recycling bins will be rolled out to every eligible Brisbane house as part of the 2025-26 Budget.
The bins will be progressively rolled out over the coming months (from August to December 2025) to those eligible households who do not already have one.
Households who want to continue using other methods to recycle their green waste will be able to opt out.
As part of the citywide rollout renters who want a green bin will also now be able to get one.
There are already 170,000 green bins in Brisbane, which is about 50 per cent of eligible households.
Additional green bins will help reduce landfill and Brisbane’s waste levy bill.
Currently green bins are diverting 43,000 tonnes of green waste from landfill a year which saves ratepayers around $1.6 million in State Government waste levy costs.
A citywide green bin rollout to eligible households has the potential to divert between 65,000 to 80,000 tonnes of green waste a year and save ratepayers between $2 million to $3 million in the first year, and up to $32 million over five years in State Government waste levy costs.
As part of the new citywide roll out, the individual quarterly green bin charge will be scrapped.
The current Waste Utility Charge will be replaced with a Universal Waste Charge.
Residents who already have a green bin will face no extra costs.
Other households will pay an extra $49.52 a year, with $33 of this increase related to the waste levy introduced by the former Labor State Government.
If you removed the impact of the State Government’s “bin tax” Council’s waste charge for houses that don’t have a green bin would only have increased 3.87 per cent, or around $4 a quarter.
Households are being hit with the waste levy despite the former Labor State Government promising there would be no “bin tax”.
The supply of green wheelie bins was funded by the State Government’s Grow FOGO fund, however this does not cover collection or processing costs.
Stand-alone households are automatically eligible for the citywide green bin rollout. Multi-unit dwellings will not automatically receive a bin but can opt-in if they generate green waste and have a need for one.
The Budget also includes the continuation of the Compost Rebate Program which gives residents up to $100 for composting equipment and up to $200 for food waste dehydrators or in-sink food disposal systems.
Every single household will continue to receive free waste vouchers, allowing them to take up to 1 tonne of additional garden waste or general waste to the tip each year, saving almost $190 a year.
FAST FACTS:
- 170,000 green bins currently in Brisbane
- Almost 230,000 tonnes of green waste has been recycled via green bin collections since 2019/20
- More than 6.6 million free waste vouchers used since 2019/20
- Almost 20,800 compost equipment rebates given since introduced in 2020/21
- More than 180,000MWh of power generated from the landfill gas-to-energy plant – enough to power 33,333 homes.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner:
“Our Council has a proud track record when it comes to rolling out green bins with more than 170,000 green bins in our suburbs and 230,000 tonnes of green waste kept out of landfill.
“Brisbane households have embraced green bins in a big way, and this rollout means even more homes can get on board.
“Every green bin collected means less going to landfill and more going back into the environment as compost.
“Whether you’re mowing, mulching or trimming hedges, there’s now a green bin ready to take your garden waste.
“Increasing green waste recycling will help residents avoid big cost increases from the former Labor State Government bin tax.
“This levy was introduced with the promise residents wouldn’t bear the cost, but unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case for many families across south east Queensland.
“We’re delivering on our commitment to address the challenges of rising living costs and growth and will continue to deliver cash rebates for people who want to recycle more in their home.
“It’s all about keeping Brisbane clean and maintaining our reputation as Australia’s most sustainable capital city.”
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