As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we are reviewing the service to make sure it still meets community needs. With the current contract expiring in 2028, it is the perfect time to review the service to ensure any changes are included in the new contract.

Any changes would not happen before the new service contract, in 2028.

Please note these estimates are based on current costings. Factors such as fuel costs, inflation and state government levies will likely see these costs increase over time.

Yarra Ranges is the largest metropolitan council in the state, servicing close to 2500km². As a comparison, our geographic area is 40 times bigger than Maroondah and 22 times bigger than Knox.

The costs to deliver a bookable (on-call) service, over such a large geographic area, are significantly higher due to:

• the number of vehicles required to undertake the collection due to travel distances and time.
• the increased fuel costs
• the need for additional resources to manage the bookings, from Reefton to Narre Warren East

Annual waste fees and charges include the cost of managing dumped rubbish, which could increase if no service is provided. The cost to manage this is estimated to be $10-$20 per household.

In addition, individual costs for disposing of your own items may be comparatively higher than the cost of the Council service. For example, hiring a skip (based on 2-3 cubic metres) is around $350 - $500 and dropping off at a tip/transfer station can be between $180 -$350, depending on the amount and type of materials at different sites.

No. Council is committed to the responsible management and disposal of rubbish and providing appropriate services to the community; however, we must consider what the best way is to address the needs of our community in a financially responsible way, now and into the future.

No. Did you know that not all Councils offer a hard rubbish service? Across Victoria, 31 of the 79 councils do not offer a hard rubbish collection or alternative disposal method. All of those Councils are in rural areas, where residents must pay for the cost of disposing of their own hard rubbish. Yarra Ranges has a unique mix of urban and rural areas, and we know that some residents may prefer not to have a council service.

When presenting viable service options, Council must consider the needs of all residents.

Accessibility and fairness for all residents are key drivers in Councils decision not to provide tip passes. Not everyone has the ability or capacity to take rubbish to a transfer station. The cost to provide tip passes to residents is also significantly higher than any proposed collection service.