Redland City Council is reshaping the way mainland Recycling and Waste Centres (RaWCs) are managed to create a fairer system that will help to mitigate rising waste costs and reduce overall pressure on Council’s waste utility charge.
Under the system, which is due to take effect from 6 October 2026, residents will receive 12 free visits to the Redland Bay and Birkdale RaWCs each financial year for the disposal of general mixed waste (landfill) and green waste loads.
Unlimited free visits will still apply for the disposal of certain materials, including scrap metal, whitegoods, barbecue gas bottles, lead-acid batteries, household recyclables such as cardboard, and second-hand items that can be sold at RecycleWorld.
You may also like these stories
The disposal of asbestos and other hazardous waste types will also remain free for residents under the new system, subject to these loads complying with existing disposal requirements and conditions at the gate.
Fees will apply at all times for the disposal of bricks and concrete, clean soil, mattresses, timber, and tyres.
Introducing a new system will help to create more equitable use by ensuring that a resident pays their way when their vehicle exceeds 12 visits in a financial year and that this cost is not being unfairly passed on to other residents, especially where commercial waste is not declared.
Under previous access arrangements, people could use a RaWC more than 100 times without paying any more in their waste utility charge than those visiting only a couple of times per year.
The importance of an equitable access system was demonstrated in a recent Council audit, which found that nine per cent of visitors to the mainland facilities accounted for about 40 per cent of the landfill and green waste received, with some vehicles dumping several tonnes of waste each year.
Council’s modelling data also demonstrates that there are more vehicles accessing Council’s waste facilities than there are residential premises on Redlands Coast.
The new access model will more closely align Council’s policies and systems with other local governments in south-east Queensland, with some using a voucher system and others charging a fee at the gate.
Importantly, the disposal of recyclables will not count towards the 12-visit allowance when brought to a RaWC on their own, ensuring residents can continue their efforts to recycle as much as possible.
Across the past 10 years, the cost of providing waste and recycling services to the Redlands Coast community has increased by more than 150 per cent.
These costs are expected to continue rising above inflation with the Queensland Government’s planned increase to the waste levy and a reduction in the levy rebate.
Introducing a fairer system for access to RaWCs is one of the ways Council is helping to keep the waste utility charge as low as possible as these costs increase.
With the data showing that only nine per cent of people are currently going over the 12-visit allowance, the majority of households will not be impacted by this change and can continue using the facilities as they always have.
The changes do not apply to RaWCs on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, Coochiemudlo Island and North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), with these facilities to maintain the same arrangements already in place.
Exemptions to the new fees will apply in certain circumstances, such as for declared storm or disaster clean ups, or where an application is lodged for the one-off disposal of waste from a deceased estate.
Commercial operators and non-residents will continue to be charged at the gate for all waste.
The Mainland Recycling and Waste Centre Residential Allowances and Fees are outlined in Redland City Council’s Register of Fees for the 2026–2027 financial year, which is available on Council’s website.
Residential ID and proof of address is required to be shown on entry to RaWCs, with visits to be counted per registered passenger vehicle.
The gatehouse operator will advise drivers how many free visits have been used.
Further information about the changes is available here.
