Waste and Recovery Service Details

Landfill Waste Levy

The State Landfill Levy was introduced in 2022 at 12 fee units ($20/tonne) to support investment in resource recovery and circular economies. It increases to 24 fee units in 2024 and 36 fee units in 2026, with the 2025–26 rate set at $45.84/tonne.

Diversion from Landfill

Around 40% of household waste in Burnie is food and garden waste. When sent to a landfill, it produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than CO₂. Through FOGO collections, we can divert 1,250 tonnes of organic waste each year for composting, recovering nutrients and reducing emissions.

Burnie is now part of the North West Resource Recovery and Recycling (NWRRR) alliance, working with neighbouring councils to support reducing waste from landfill by providing opportunities for FOGO and recycling collections.

With FOGO and improved recycling, Council aims to achieve a 60% diversion rate from landfill through kerbside collections.  Once you remove organics and recyclables, the remaining household landfill waste can be minimal, mostly soft plastics, nappies, wipes, pet waste, takeaway cups, foil-lined tetra packs and small broken items.

This diversion supports regional and state waste recovery objectives, plus reduces the cost of the landfill levy. Take a look at the tracker to see how much each council has saved:

🔗 nwrrr.com.au/tracker

To reach the 60% diversion target, the region needs Burnie to do our bit!

FOGO, waste (and some recycling bins) will be delivered in early September to all property types within the serviced zone (excluding the CBD) including residential, commercial, industry, primary production and other types.

Businesses and Industry are advised to make contact with commercial waste operators for additional waste collections.

Cardboard - With the introduction of these new services, the Council cardboard collection outside of the CBD will cease. Commercial cardboard collection is available by private arrangement through commercial waste operators, and free cardboard skips continue to be provided at the Burnie Waste Management Centre (BWMC) recovery loop. Businesses without a private arrangement must take the cardboard directly to the BWMC. 

Rural inclusion - All Rural and primary production properties within the serviced inzone between Burnie and Ridgley will be receiving a waste and FOGO bin to join their fortnightly recycling bin.

Outzone - excluded

From 25 September 2025, kerbside waste collection will cease for 120 properties located outside the defined service boundary.

These properties will no longer be charged a kerbside collection fee on their rates from this date (prorata from 28 September).

Affected areas include: Stowport, Natone, Tewkesbury, Highclere, Ridgley Circular Road, and areas west and south of Guide Falls.

Council recommends these households arrange waste services with a commercial provider (details below), as over 700 of the outzone properties already manage their waste this way.

🔗 Kerbside Collection Zones(PDF, 360KB)  

Existing landfill and cardboard collections in the Burnie CBD will continue to be available during a transition period on a cost-recovery fee for service basis. FOGO and recycling bins will not be rolled out in the CBD in September 2025, with future storage and kerbside presentation challenges to be addressed through Council’s CBD urban redesign project, aligned with regional business waste initiatives. 

The single bin per tenement Council-rated collection of waste and cardboard occurs weekly on a Tuesday.

For recycling, or paper collections within the CBD businesses will need to seek a private arrangement.

Council seeks input from all businesses in Burnie around the current challenges in the CBD and future needs for additional waste, as part of the broader urban planning project, via this CBD Waste Needs Survey (by Friday 17 July)

After the 31 July for future additional weekly waste services businesses will need to see a private arrangement or re-apply to Council on a fee-for-service basis invoiced monthly:

CBD Additional Waste Collection Application.

From September, waste collections in the CBD will occur from 6am aligned to work in with the timing of regional collections.

For properties outside the collection zone, and those needing additional services beyond the fortnightly Council collection, such as recycling and paper collections, private waste operators service all areas within Burnie. These providers offer 240L and 660L bin or skip options for general waste, recycling, paper and cardboard collection.

New 240Ltr landfill waste bins with a red lid will be rolled out to all properties within the designated serviced Inzone. Each bin will be assigned to a rated property tenement using a unique serial number to support better data collection and ongoing maintenance. Start using your new bins as soon as you receive them.

15-18 September will be the last collection of your old bin.

If you would like to keep your old bin and repurpose it, you may!

Council will accept old general waste bins for recycling - these can be left empty at the kerb for collection on 22-25 September or dropped off at the Waste Management Centre. Collected bins will be recycled into new plastic products. If you want to keep your old waste bin and repurpose it, you can do that too. Please call council on 25 September if your old bin has not been removed.

The first new red-lid landfill bin collection will be 22-25 September, alternating fortnightly.

Weigh-in / weigh-out, easy, and no need for tickets

We have heard your feedback, the current voucher system allocated to ratepayers has some known limitations, particularly for tenants of leased properties within the Burnie municipality.

As part of the transition to fortnightly waste collection and in response to community feedback,  a simpler system will be implemented without the need for vouchers. From 1 July, residents can drop off up to 100kg of household waste per visit at the Burnie Waste Management Centre free of charge. If your load is over 100kg simply pay the extra eg $4.90 for 20 kg.

Load Fees

Following the successful weigh-in, and weigh-out trial in 2023–24, load charges at the Waste Management Centre are now based on actual weight.

The rate remains unchanged from last year at $245 per tonne (incl. GST). 

See the full list here:  Waste - Fees and Charges 2025-2026(PDF, 445KB)

We know green waste changes have raised some concerns.  Council is working on service delivery options to balance cost recovery with encouraging responsible waste reduction. We’ve updated green waste fees to reflect the current costs of processing, including transport to Dulverton, a regional council-owned composting facility, where it’s turned into safe, certified compost.

We understand this creates extra costs for those who previously relied on vouchers. Our focus is on helping households manage waste more easily, especially with FOGO starting in September.

For any excess, Burnie residents have access 100kg free per visit for waste disposal (including green waste) with proof of residency like a driver’s licence.

We encourage considering practical ways to reduce future green waste, such as:

• Using low-maintenance or native plantings,

• Increasing mulch mowing and on-site mulching or chipping,

• Designing gardens to minimise heavy pruning.

We understand this shift may take time, but small adjustments can help reduce the need for tip trips, improve soil health, and support local biodiversity.

We also acknowledge the important role gardening services play in keeping properties safe and well-maintained. Many operators are already helping residents make long-term changes through options like low-maintenance landscaping, on-site mulching, mulch mowing, and tailored advice to reduce green waste.

We’re keen to promote practical, affordable ways to reduce waste while keeping properties safe and tidy.

These changes are guided by key principles that aim to balance environmental responsibility, regional efficiency, service cost equity, and market access.

1. Environmental Responsibility: The new service aims to significantly reduce landfill waste and emissions by increasing recycling and diverting organic material through FOGO.
2. Efficiency and Cost Management: A regional collection model helps manage rising waste costs through shared services and operational efficiency.
3. Service Delivery Equity and Clarity: Clear service boundaries and a consistent, cost-recovered service model ensure fair access for all properties, with improved data recording.
4. Competitive Neutrality: Council is committed to encouraging a competitive waste collection market for additional waste and cardboard collection services, inside or outside the collection zone, available on a fee-for-service basis from commercial waste operators.

We are part of a bigger picture of waste minimisation initiatives; Regional, State and National.

Region

• North West Resource Recovery Recycling (NWRRR)  alliance   
• Cradle Coast Waste Management Group Strategic Plan 2023-2028

Rethink Waste Tasmania

• Landfills
• Recycling
• Composting

State Strategy

• Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2023 – 2026

• Natural Resources and Environment (NRM) Resource Recovery 

National Policy

• Australian Government’s Waste Action Policy