
Bundaberg Regional Council has announced changes to waste facility operations aimed at reducing costs and improving efficiency while maintaining service standards for the community.
The changes include adjusted operating hours at waste facilities, changes to items accepted at the Qunaba Waste Management Facility, and the closure of all waste facilities, except the Bundaberg Waste Management Facility, on public holidays.
Council’s Waste and Recycling Portfolio spokesperson, Cr Gary Kirk, said the adjustments were essential to address the rising costs associated with waste management and landfill operations.
“Residents in the Bundaberg Region currently dispose of approximately 43,000 tonnes of waste to landfill annually, incurring $4 million in state-imposed waste levies,” Cr Kirk said.
“With the State Government levy increasing each year, we’re facing a projected $28.7 million shortfall over the next decade.”
The changes, to be implemented from 3 February 2025, are expected to save $385,000 annually, with operational cost reductions including $244,000 from revised facility hours and $51,000 from public holiday closures.
“Public holidays have, on average, approximately 64% less patronage but higher staffing costs – so this shift is both a cost saving and improves our staff’s work-life balance,” Cr Kirk said.
Waste facility opening hours as of 3 February 2025.
Changes to waste facility opening hours include:
- Avondale – changing from Sunday mornings to Saturday afternoons.
- Booyal and Buxton – open on the first Sunday of each month.
- Meadowvale – open twice each week.
- Qunaba – closed Wednesdays and open until 3 pm.
- Woodgate – weekday hours changing from mornings to afternoons.
The changes also allow the Qunaba Waste Management Facility to cease landfilling and transition into a transfer station.
As a result, larger loads, including agricultural plastic, concrete, and skip bins over 3 m³, will no longer be accepted at the site.
“This move alone is estimated to save $90,000 annually in external plant operation costs,” Cr Kirk said.
“Any items no longer accepted at the Qunaba facility can still be disposed of at the Bundaberg site.
“These adjustments will ensure all waste facilities remain open while keeping user fees as low as possible for ratepayers.”
Click here for further information on the items accepted at each waste facility.
A city I recently visited actually allows and encourages people to come in and take items from the piles of rubbish. This is a great way to reduce the waste volume, encourage re-usage and save people money. The old name of “scavenging” has a nasty connotation to it and could be replaced by something like “Recyclers Welcome”. It would not be hard to organise and manage such a procedure.
If you want people to recycle pick the bins up weekly I always have to put recycle waste in the general waste bin on the off week