Victorians hit with new bin taxes as councils hike waste collection charges

Australians in one state are being hit with sneaky new tax rates of up to $179, dealing another blow to families already struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Nearly 60 per cent of Victorian councils have increased their waste levy by more than five per cent, while a quarter have increased it by more than 10 per cent since July 1.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council was among the worst offenders after voting to introduce six new waste charges and increase the rate by 22.85 per cent.

Council Watch Chairman Kelvin Granger denounced the increases, which amount to hundreds of dollars a year.

“The difficulty from our point of view is that it’s just another cost to taxpayers that they can’t afford,” he says 3AW on Monday.

Nearly 60 per cent of Victorian councils have increased their waste levy by more than five per cent, while a quarter have increased it by more than 10 per cent since July 1 (stock image)

“The rates themselves are so ridiculous in much of Victoria that this is yet another straw that will break even more camels.

‘And for what, is the question we would like to (answer). Is this going to be another warehouse full of trash that they can’t use,” he said.

Mr Granger was referring to the scandal where mountains of recyclables were left to rot for more than two years – after China stopped taking Australian recycling – and were later dumped in a landfill.

Mornington Peninsula Council has added an extra $35 for household waste bin collections and a further $150 for green waste.

Alpine Shire Council has handed residents a blow with a $179 increase on their 2023/2024 rates.

While the new charges of up to $179 per household will not be charged by every council in Victoria, Mr Granger believes it is only a matter of time.

“Ultimately, we think that will happen. “I live in country Victoria and it hasn’t happened here yet, but I have no doubt it will happen,” he said.

The state government has capped council rates at 3.5 per cent, leading to suspicions that waste charges are a way to increase council revenue beyond that limit.

“We want the state government to step in and do that as it did with the General Council rates,” Mr Granger told the committee Herald Sun.

Victoria doubled its landfill levy from $65.90 to $125.90 per tonne in 2020, and costs have since risen to $129.27, which councils said was a factor in the higher collection rates.

But Granger thinks there is another agenda at play behind the price increases.

“(It) is to appease the environmentalists again. Here we are dealing with people who are hurting and are largely driven by environmentalists,” he said.

The councils also said a lack of space at Victorian landfills and illegal dumping – which costs councils up to $1 million a year – were also partly responsible for the rising costs (stock image)

“The damage and pain we are causing more and more taxpayers… What are the benefits that will come from this? That hasn’t been explained to anyone.’

Councils also said a lack of space at Victorian landfills and illegal dumping – which costs councils up to $1 million a year – were also partly responsible for the rising costs.

Victorian Waste Management Association chief executive Peter Anderson said the cost of handling waste and recycling would continue to rise in coming years.

“Until we find a way to deal with waste more seriously, we’re going to have to keep paying for it,” he said.

READ MORE: Big changes to yellow bins being trialled across Australia: here’s what it could mean for your weekly waste collection

Soft plastics could soon be allowed in recycling bins with yellow lids, under major changes that could come after the collapse of the REDcycle programme.

Items such as carrier bags and crinkle plastic packaging have previously been banned from council recycling bins, but that is now set to change.

The labeled bags can then be easily identified and removed during processing, after which they are sent to specialist recycling plants that turn them into food-grade plastic.

Soft plastics could soon be allowed in recycling bins with yellow lids, under major changes that could come after the collapse of the REDcycle program