Solid Waste Levy Impact

Published on 01 July 2019

As part of its 2019/20 Budget, the State Government unexpectedly increased the Solid Waste Levy - the price per tonne for the disposal of waste to landfill – by almost 40 per cent. This has a direct flow on impact for our residents and ratepayers as the cost for Council to dispose of household waste to landfill will subsequently increase. While acknowledging there would be an increase in some form, this amount was unprecedented; with Council not having any involvement in discussions leading up to the announcement. 

At its meeting on 25 June 2019, Council considered the impact of the above State Government decision during the deliberation of the 2019/20 Annual Business Plan and Budget Report.  Council's Draft Annual Budget was produced to minimise the rate increase without compromising services, therefore the impact of the significantly increased waste levy announced by the State Government on 18 June 2019, necessitates that it be passed on to ratepayers through a rate increase. 

Council wishes to express its extreme disappointment at the significant increase in the waste levy for 2019/2020 announced in the State Budget.

Since 2004 this levy has increased by 2,700 per cent ($5 per tonne in 2004, to $140 per tonne come January 2020). At Tuesday’s Council meeting Cr Peter Cornish said, “To equate that to a Big Mac – a Big Mac would now cost you $140! That’s a huge increase!”

The rate increase for 2019/20 has now been set at 2.8 per cent, inclusive of a 0.4 per cent solid waste levy.  Council rates are the main source of income used to provide key services, such as waste collection, for the Burnside community. As the cost of waste disposal will increase, it is critical that every resident makes a conscious effort to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill – thereby reducing the risk of high yearly rates increases that would be needed to cover the cost of disposing of the community’s waste. Everyone has a part to play.

You can help to reduce the cost of disposing waste to landfill.

Everything that goes in your red bin goes to landfill. The more you recycle, re-use and compost, the less your red bin will weigh.

Please help to reduce waste costs by using the yellow and green lid bins correctly.

What goes in your yellow bin – lids off and rinse:

No broken glass or light globes.

What goes in your green bin:

The general rule for the green bin is ‘if it grows, it goes!’ Cardboard and paper are compostable as they are made from trees…which of course grow, so hence these items are good to go in the green bin. Food scraps, tissues, teabags, all go in the green lid bin. Use a kitchen caddy/bio basket and compostable bags to collect and store food scraps before placing them in your green bin or wrap in newspaper. Even greasy pizza boxes go in the green bin as well as nail clippings and hair from humans and pets. Post-it notes, small pieces of paper and shredded paper can be placed in the green bin as they are too small for the yellow bin. Wrap pet waste in newspaper or collect it in a compostable bag before placing it in your green bin.

Red bin:

There is no known brand of compostable nappies that can completely break down in a commercial composting system so nappies go in the red bin.

Plastic bags, including biodegradable bags, don’t go in the green or yellow bin. Take them to your local supermarket for recycling.

Ceramic plates, bowls, mugs, saucers, pots and dishes made from earthenware or china are not recyclable. Put in your red bin or donate to a charity.

Foam includes meat trays, coffee cups and foam packaging and is identified by the number 6 in the plastic identification code on the bottom of the container. Put them in the red bin.

Check out East Waste’s Recycling from A – Z if you are unsure which bin to use. https://whichbin.sa.gov.au/a-z-items