The Rising Cost of Waste - Waste Service Charge Proposal

Consultation has concluded

Thank you for providing your feedback. 

Thank you to everyone who responded to our survey and participated in the workshops held in April, May and August 2022. The consultation is now closed. 

From July 2023, Council has implemented the Waste Service Charge. 

Rate payers will notice the change on the 2023/24 Rate Notice they receive in August 2023. Supplementary bin charges will also appear as items on the annual Rate Notice, replacing the separate invoice for those with extra bins or larger bins.  

For more information, please visit Waste Service Charge | Whitehorse City Council. 

Waste Service Charge Resolution  

On 12 September 2022, Council resolved to implement a Waste Service Charge commencing in the 2023/24 financial year. A copy of the meeting minutes which provide details around this decision can be found here. 

Charges for waste and recycling services will be determined as part of budget considerations for 2023/24 and shown separately on the Rate Notice. The general rates will be reduced to reflect that waste charges are now separate items. 

This means that from the 2023/24 financial year, your Rate Notice will look different. There will be no separate annual supplementary bin invoice. When owners or ratepayers opt-in for extra bins or larger bins, these charges will also appear on the annual Rate Notice. 


* actual figures will vary depending on Capital Improved Value of your property 

** actual figures will be based on the cost of these services. 

 

Waste Service Charge Structure 

The Waste Service Charge consists of three components:  

This change will bring Whitehorse in line with 75 other Victorian councils and will be overseen by the Essential Services Commission to ensure Council only collects as much as it actually costs to provide waste and recycling services. 


Community Consultation Report April, May and August 2022 

Throughout April, May and August 2022, we sought community feedback on the Waste Service Charge proposal. The campaign reached over 25,000 people via Social Media, Whitehorse News, emails, social media and events across the municipality. We accepted community feedback by direct submissions, online and offline surveys and social media discussions. 330 people submitted their responses to our online survey, over 150 residents spoke to Council staff members at the engagement pop-ups in Box Hill and Nunawading, and 12 people participated in in-depth workshops. 

The community consultation was completed by an independent consultant. You can access the full community consultation report here or in the Document Library on this page. 

Community FeedbackCouncil Actions/Response  
Transparency and fairness: 

Community members strongly believe that separating waste services from the general rates charge would increase transparency.  



Community thinks that the Waste Service Charge can be used by Council as a sneaky way of raising extra money from residents.  


There are concerns that residents will be charged twice for waste services.  

Community members believe the separation of waste charges from general rates is an appropriate step to take. On 12 September 2022, Council resolved to implement a Waste Service Charge commencing in 2023/24. This will bring Whitehorse in line with 75 other Victorian councils for a transparent and fair system. 

The Waste Service Charge will be overseen by the Essential Services Commission to ensure Council only charges as much as it actually costs to provide waste and recycling services. 


The Waste Service Charge is not an extra charge in addition to general rates. Council will adjust general rates to reflect that waste charges are now separate items. The amount of the Waste Service Charge will be determined as part of the 2023/24 budget process. 
Pay only for your service: 

Community members should only pay for services they use. This includes being able to opt out of services and being charged for the waste services by weight, not per bin.  











Use the Waste Service Charge as an incentive to reduce waste to landfill.

Until now, all services have been rolled into one general rates charge. This means that properties with a higher Capital Improved Value have effectively been contributing more to kerbside and other waste services than properties with lower Capital Improved Values. 

With the Waste Service Charge, properties will be charged the same fee for kerbside and public waste services regardless of the Capital Improved Value. Properties that are not eligible for kerbside bin services will not pay the Kerbside Waste Service Charge component of the Waste Service Charge. 

A system where residents could opt in or opt out of a standard service, or a system that is based on how much waste a property generates might work for some households but would be administratively burdensome and impractical for Council. This also may result in the dumping of rubbish or the use of other people’s bins. 



At this stage of Victoria’s recycling reform, we can incentivise behaviour change through the price structure for larger and additional landfill bins. 
Special Considerations: 

Community expects Council to continue special arrangements for community members or groups with particular waste needs. 


The special arrangements that are already in place for particular waste needs will continue, including: 

o Eligible pension concession card holders are entitled to a pension concession or rebate on rates and levies. 

o Additional free-of-charge bin capacity can be requested on medical grounds. This is an assessment-based concession. 

o Ratepayers who experience hardship can seek rate relief and periodic payment arrangements in line with Council’s Rates Hardship Assistance Policy. 

o Not for profit and community organisations can apply for a range of grants and support mechanisms to operate or run events and services. 


Education: 

Desire for more education in the community of waste reduction. 

Council is committed to delivering an education program to the community including culturally and linguistically diverse groups and amongst residents of multi-unit developments. 



If you have any questions about the project, please email the Project Officer at Simon.Kinsey@whitehorse.vic.gov.au.

Thank you for providing your feedback. 

Thank you to everyone who responded to our survey and participated in the workshops held in April, May and August 2022. The consultation is now closed. 

From July 2023, Council has implemented the Waste Service Charge. 

Rate payers will notice the change on the 2023/24 Rate Notice they receive in August 2023. Supplementary bin charges will also appear as items on the annual Rate Notice, replacing the separate invoice for those with extra bins or larger bins.  

For more information, please visit Waste Service Charge | Whitehorse City Council. 

Waste Service Charge Resolution  

On 12 September 2022, Council resolved to implement a Waste Service Charge commencing in the 2023/24 financial year. A copy of the meeting minutes which provide details around this decision can be found here. 

Charges for waste and recycling services will be determined as part of budget considerations for 2023/24 and shown separately on the Rate Notice. The general rates will be reduced to reflect that waste charges are now separate items. 

This means that from the 2023/24 financial year, your Rate Notice will look different. There will be no separate annual supplementary bin invoice. When owners or ratepayers opt-in for extra bins or larger bins, these charges will also appear on the annual Rate Notice. 


* actual figures will vary depending on Capital Improved Value of your property 

** actual figures will be based on the cost of these services. 

 

Waste Service Charge Structure 

The Waste Service Charge consists of three components:  

This change will bring Whitehorse in line with 75 other Victorian councils and will be overseen by the Essential Services Commission to ensure Council only collects as much as it actually costs to provide waste and recycling services. 


Community Consultation Report April, May and August 2022 

Throughout April, May and August 2022, we sought community feedback on the Waste Service Charge proposal. The campaign reached over 25,000 people via Social Media, Whitehorse News, emails, social media and events across the municipality. We accepted community feedback by direct submissions, online and offline surveys and social media discussions. 330 people submitted their responses to our online survey, over 150 residents spoke to Council staff members at the engagement pop-ups in Box Hill and Nunawading, and 12 people participated in in-depth workshops. 

The community consultation was completed by an independent consultant. You can access the full community consultation report here or in the Document Library on this page. 

Community FeedbackCouncil Actions/Response  
Transparency and fairness: 

Community members strongly believe that separating waste services from the general rates charge would increase transparency.  



Community thinks that the Waste Service Charge can be used by Council as a sneaky way of raising extra money from residents.  


There are concerns that residents will be charged twice for waste services.  

Community members believe the separation of waste charges from general rates is an appropriate step to take. On 12 September 2022, Council resolved to implement a Waste Service Charge commencing in 2023/24. This will bring Whitehorse in line with 75 other Victorian councils for a transparent and fair system. 

The Waste Service Charge will be overseen by the Essential Services Commission to ensure Council only charges as much as it actually costs to provide waste and recycling services. 


The Waste Service Charge is not an extra charge in addition to general rates. Council will adjust general rates to reflect that waste charges are now separate items. The amount of the Waste Service Charge will be determined as part of the 2023/24 budget process. 
Pay only for your service: 

Community members should only pay for services they use. This includes being able to opt out of services and being charged for the waste services by weight, not per bin.  











Use the Waste Service Charge as an incentive to reduce waste to landfill.

Until now, all services have been rolled into one general rates charge. This means that properties with a higher Capital Improved Value have effectively been contributing more to kerbside and other waste services than properties with lower Capital Improved Values. 

With the Waste Service Charge, properties will be charged the same fee for kerbside and public waste services regardless of the Capital Improved Value. Properties that are not eligible for kerbside bin services will not pay the Kerbside Waste Service Charge component of the Waste Service Charge. 

A system where residents could opt in or opt out of a standard service, or a system that is based on how much waste a property generates might work for some households but would be administratively burdensome and impractical for Council. This also may result in the dumping of rubbish or the use of other people’s bins. 



At this stage of Victoria’s recycling reform, we can incentivise behaviour change through the price structure for larger and additional landfill bins. 
Special Considerations: 

Community expects Council to continue special arrangements for community members or groups with particular waste needs. 


The special arrangements that are already in place for particular waste needs will continue, including: 

o Eligible pension concession card holders are entitled to a pension concession or rebate on rates and levies. 

o Additional free-of-charge bin capacity can be requested on medical grounds. This is an assessment-based concession. 

o Ratepayers who experience hardship can seek rate relief and periodic payment arrangements in line with Council’s Rates Hardship Assistance Policy. 

o Not for profit and community organisations can apply for a range of grants and support mechanisms to operate or run events and services. 


Education: 

Desire for more education in the community of waste reduction. 

Council is committed to delivering an education program to the community including culturally and linguistically diverse groups and amongst residents of multi-unit developments. 



If you have any questions about the project, please email the Project Officer at Simon.Kinsey@whitehorse.vic.gov.au.