FAQs
Council operates nine Waste Management Facilities Of these, four operate as landfill sites, where waste can be buried on site, and the remaining five are transfer stations, where waste has to be transported to a landfill site for final disposal.
Two of Council’s landfill sites (Moranbah and Dysart) are equipped with weighbridges and all waste materials must be weighed on the way into the site or when leaving the site as recyclables. The other two landfills (Clermont and Glenden) do not have weighbridges in operation.
The weight of waste being delivered is determined by referring to a “deeming table” which works out the weight of waste depending on the size and type of vehicle delivering the waste and is a state government requirement.
None of Council’s five transfer stations has a weighbridge. Waste for landfill is weighed only when it reaches its final disposal point at the landfill site weighbridge. Transfer Stations are located at St Lawrence, Carmila, Greenhill, Middlemount and Nebo. Visitors to Moranbah Waste Management Facility will notice that small vehicles usually tip in a transfer station at that site. This is to maximise waste recycling and to ensure the safety of site users.
Fees and Charges
Council charges for the disposal or recycling of most of the waste products transported privately to Council Waste Management Facilities.
Household (Domestic) Waste
The most common exception to these charges is for household waste – most household waste can be recycled or disposed of free of charge to Isaac Region residents. This includes household waste, recyclables, green waste, scrap metal, car batteries, old computers and televisions. When residents deliver such waste from their own place of residence to the waste management facility in a private vehicle (cars, utes, and trailers pulled by such vehicles) Council will record the waste being delivered and the details of the vehicle - in line with State Government legislation – but will not make a charge for such waste, regardless of how many visits the resident makes to the waste facility.
When arriving at site please advise our friendly site staff details of the wastes you have and they will be happy to direct you to the correct disposal area for each waste item.
The State Government defines household (domestic) waste as “waste resulting from the ordinary domestic use or occupation of a house, flat, apartment, unit, boarding house, hostel or guesthouse[GM1] ”. In practice, household waste includes the material that householders place in their red-lidded waste bins or the mixed waste they self-deliver to landfills and transfer stations”. Construction and demolition waste is not considered to be household waste.
Commercial Waste
Waste delivered in commercial vehicles does not generally fall within this description, and therefore any waste delivered in a commercial vehicle is chargeable, even if it originates from a domestic residence. A commercial vehicle is generally any vehicle with a GVM > 4.5 tonnes
Council will charge for disposal of certain items even if brought by a domestic resident in a private vehicle. These items include: fridges and freezers, air conditioners, tyres, mattresses, solar panels, asbestos, and construction and demolition waste.
If you are in doubt about household waste in commercial vehicles, please contact Council on 1300 ISAACS before travelling to the waste management facility.
A list of Council’s fees & charges can be found on Council’s website. Please note that Council facilities other than Greenhill accept EFTPOS payments only.
Q: As an Isaac resident, can I use the dump for free?
A: Most household waste can be recycled or disposed of free of charge to Isaac Region residents. This includes household waste, recyclables, green waste, scrap metal, car batteries and household batteries, old computers and televisions.
Q: Do I have to pay to dispose of any items at the dump?
A: Yes, certain items which incur a cost to Council for their recycling or disposal are chargeable at the Waste Management Facility. These items are: fridges and freezers, air conditioners, tyres, mattresses, solar panels, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, car bodies, and construction and demolition waste. Council also charges for asbestos – special conditions apply, which you can read about here(PDF, 1MB).
View the current Fees and Charges Schedule here.
Q: Do you charge for commercial waste?
A: Yes, ALL commercial waste incurs a fee at Council’s Waste Management Facilities.
Q: How can I be sure that I will not be charged for any household waste?
A: You will not be charged for household wastes if the waste
1) is brought in a car, or a ute, or in a trailer pulled by such vehicles, and
2) does not include any fridges or freezers, air conditioners, tyres, mattresses, solar panels, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, car bodies, asbestos or construction & demolition waste.
Q: If I have a large amount of household waste and I borrow or hire a truck to fit the waste into one load, will it still be free to dump?
A: Site staff have been instructed to charge for any waste being delivered in a commercial vehicle (e.g. a tipper truck).
Q: How do I know if Council staff will treat my waste as domestic or commercial?
A: As a general rule of thumb, waste delivered by a resident in a car, ute or trailer will be assumed to be household waste if it meets the State Government’s definition as waste resulting from the ordinary domestic use or occupation of a house, flat, apartment, unit, boarding house, hostel or guesthouse, and is similar to the material that householders place in their red-liddedwaste bins. Another rule of thumb is that waste brought in a truck (usually with a GVM of greater than 4.5 tonnes) will be considered to be commercial waste, regardless of where the waste originated.
Q: What kind of things are included in construction and demolition waste?
A: Any wastes from construction and demolition of buildings can be construction and demolition waste, i.e. any waste arising from building works as defined in section 5 of the Building Act 1975. This includes materials like concrete for recycling, old Colorbond sheets and offcuts, timber and timber offcuts, rubble, plasterboard, cabling and conduit, pipes, slates, bricks, tiles and concrete blocks, hot water systems, bathroom suites, fence posts, fencing wire and fence rails or panels. As a general rule of thumb, ask yourself if the waste material comprises only items that you would take with you when you move house. Items like toilets, sinks, baths, kitchen units, doors, garden shed, gates or fences would therefore be classed as construction & demolition waste.
Q: If I have a builder carrying out building work at my house, and I accompany the builder in his truck, will I have to pay to dump the waste arising from the building work?
A: Yes, all waste in trucks will be charged
Q: If I have load of broken up concrete from replacing my house driveway, a broken up garden shed, and some broken up fencing from the garden at my house, and I bring this in my ute or trailer, will I be charged?
A: Yes, this is considered as construction and demolition waste and you will be charged.
Q: I am a ratepayer. Do my rates not include provision to be able to use the dump for free?
A: The costs of running waste management facilities are not covered by general rates. Special utility charges are made for residents who enjoy a regular wheelie bin collection. This helps to pay the cost of operating the Waste Management Facilities but does not cover the cost of wastes where Council has to pay a third party to process these items.
Q: I do not own a car. My only vehicle is a work ute with my company name painted on the side of it. Will I be charged for my domestic waste if I use this ute?
A: Your waste will be accepted as household in such circumstances if the waste meets the State Government’s definition as waste resulting from the ordinary domestic use or occupation of a house, flat, apartment, unit, boarding house, hostel or guesthouse, and is similar to the material that householders place in their red lidded waste bins. If however the waste has the appearance of waste arising from the operation of the type of business indicated on the side of the vehicle, Council staff are instructed to accept this waste as commercial waste and to charge accordingly.
Q: The only vehicle which I have access to is a small tipper truck with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes. Will I be charged for my domestic waste in such a vehicle?
Q: Why is my car rego number recorded at the dump?
A: This is a Queensland Government requirement under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
Q: What payment methods are accepted?
A: All of Council’s Waste Management Facilities accept EFTPOS as the only payment method. In the event of failure of the EFTPOS on site, arrangements will be made to accept payment at one of Council’s Customer Service Centres.
Q: I have moved to the Isaac region from another part of Australia and had to pay for using the local Council dumps there. Why doesn’t Isaac Regional Council charge me to dump?
A: Each Council will make its own decisions regarding this. Isaac Regional Council tries to strike a balance by aiming not to charge “mum and dad” users of waste facilities, trying to discourage illegal dumping, whilst at the same time aiming to ensure that the “user pays” in order to provide best value for money for ratepayers. That’s why Council charges for certain items where there is a cost to Council in processing those items.
Q: I have seen someone advertising on a local social media community page saying that they offer “dump runs”. If a person like this were to charge me to undertake a “dump run” would Council charge for the waste?
A: Yes, if Council is aware that a customer is undertaking this kind of work then this customer will be charged for disposal as commercial waste.
Q: I don’t see why I should pay to use the dump. I will just dump my stuff and leave without paying.
A: Council views this type of action in the same way as a petrol station customer who drives off without paying for fuel. Bear in mind that ALL transactions are recorded, and at some sites images of the transactions are taken and recorded, including images of the vehicle, rego number and the waste materials.
Q: I don’t see why I should pay to use the dump. I will just dump my stuff in the bush.
A: This is illegal dumping, which can attract a fine of up to $1,378 for individuals and up to $6, 892 for corporations.. Bear in mind that ALL transactions are recorded, and at some sites images of the transactions are taken and recorded, including images of the vehicle, rego number and the waste materials. Such images could be used in an investigation into the illegal dumping, subject to Council following the relevant privacy laws. Council has developed an Illegal Dumping Management & Intervention Plan, which features several actions, including education & enforcement, surveillance, review of prices of commonly dumped items and an annual “free dump day”.
Q: I have to have medical treatment at home which means I generate some clinical waste like sharps, needles etc. Can I dispose of this at the dump?
A: Council waste sites are not permitted to accept clinical waste. You should seek advice from the provider of your health care for how to dispose of this waste.
Q: Can I recycle Printer cartridges at the dump?
A: Council does not currently have a way of recycling printer cartridges at its waste facilities. Please enquire with the supplier of your printers for disposal options.
I took my cans and bottles to one of the coastal waste sites in Isaac (Greenhill, Carmila and St Lawrence). I was expecting to be able to collect the 10c deposit on my cans straight away but this did not happen. When will I receive my deposits back?
Council accommodates the Containers for Change services at its three coastal sites (Greenhill, Carmila and St Lawrence) for the convenience of local residents,but is not responsible for any aspects of the Containers for Change scheme operation. Council has no way of reimbursing any refunds – this is the responsibility of Containers for Change – CoEx – and you should contact them on 13 42 42 or by logging in to https://containerexchange.com.au with your Scheme ID.