Waste Services FAQ’s

So what can and can’t go in each kerbside bin?

• Download the A-Z Guide from ReThinkwaste Tasmania,
• See the below summary from the nwrrr.com.au/guide

The 100kg free disposal allowance provides a standard baseline to support households with occasional excess waste, including green waste.

This limit helps maintain equitable access, manage costs across all ratepayers, and keep the system sustainable into the future.

To help prevent misuse of the provision and maintain consistent access, the following Fair Use Policy applies:

• Waste Services Policy(PDF, 135KB)

Proof of Residency
The resident must be present in the vehicle and may be asked to show proof of Burnie residency, such as a driver’s licence or ID card.

Waste Type
The free allowance applies to a load of typical excess household waste only. Business, agricultural, or industrial waste is not included.

Waste Volume Limits
Residents may deposit up to 100kg free per visit, with the expectation of one resident presenting their identification, per vehicle load.

Daily Visit Limits - Laps
To keep things fair for everyone, a reasonable number of visits per vehicle applies each day. If you’re doing a household clean-out, that’s fine, just allow about an hour between trips. This helps prevent overuse and ensures the service remains available for all residents.

Non-Residents
Non-Residents, Businesses, Gardeners and Organisations can deposit a reasonable amount at the free Recovery Loop, but landfill, soil and green waste are charged at the gate fee. 

Vehicles with business signwriting may be presumed to be commercial and asked to confirm the source of their waste.

Refer to Council’s By-law for further compliance details with the use of the Waste Management Centre.

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.

We recognise these changes introduce new costs for those who previously relied on vouchers. Council’s focus remains on supporting resident households while encouraging waste reduction at the source.

The 100kg free disposal allowance provides a standard baseline to support households with occasional excess waste, including green waste. We understand this may feel limiting for larger properties, but it helps maintain consistent access and manage costs across all ratepayers. To keep the system consistent for everyone, anyone delivering waste may be asked to show proof of Burnie residency, such as a driver’s licence.

Thus, for residents, if your load is under 100kg, it’s free. That’s 2-3 wheelie bins, or 8-10 bags (10kg each)
If over? You just pay for the extra.

For businesses and organisations, non-residents, landfill and green waste are charged atthe gate fee

From September, the rollout of the FOGO kerbside service will make it easier for households to manage food and garden waste from home, reducing reliance on visits the tip.

Low Waste Gardens

For properties with larger gardens, 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, and tailored advice to reduce green waste.

Compost Sales offset processing costs

While it might seem like green waste could be turned straight into mulch, unfortunately, it contains weeds and other contaminants. This means it can’t be safely used or sold without proper treatment. At Dulverton, it’s turned into high-quality, ISO-certified compost available for purchase by Councils and residents through local nurseries. These sales help offset some (but not all) of the processing costs.

We’re keen to promote practical solutions that balance service delivery, responsible waste management, and cost recovery.

The old voucher system has been replaced to make waste disposal simpler and fairer for everyone.

From 1 July 2025, residents can now dispose of up to 100kg of household landfill or green waste for free per visit by simply showing proof of residence — no vouchers needed.

This change was made in response to community feedback, particularly that the voucher system was:

• Not always fair, especially for tenants who could miss out
• Confusing to use and manage
• Easy to lose or forget

The new approach is:

• Easier for residents (no paperwork or tickets)
• More consistent and fair across households
• Faster and simpler at the gate

What’s included in waste disposal fees?

Waste disposal fees at the Burnie Waste Management Centre cover the cost of managing waste from drop-off to final processing or disposal and include the following: 

1. Infrastructure costs: Building and maintaining the Waste Centre.
2. Operational costs: Staff, equipment, and day-to-day site management.
3. Transport costs: Loading and moving waste to landfill or recovery facilities.
4. Landfill gate fees (life-cycle costs) Costs to operate, close, and rehabilitate landfill sites, including long-term environmental care.
5. Processing costs (recycling and green waste) Sorting and processing materials, where costs are not fully offset by sale of recovered products.
6. Waste Levy: A State Government charge that funds programs to reduce landfill and support reuse, recycling, and circular economy initiatives.

Greenwaste Fee Changes

Fees now better reflect the rising costs of managing and processing green waste as we move toward full cost recovery. We know this may affect some small businesses and past token users. The new FOGO service makes managing food and garden waste easier, and simple steps like mulching or waste-smart gardening can help too.