REDLANDS residents will now have to start paying to dump rubbish and green waste once they have made 12 free tip trips in a financial year.
The new system began on Tuesday, at Redland City Council’s mainland Recycling and Waste Centres at Birkdale and Redland Bay.
Under the change, every vehicle will receive 12 free visits each financial year to dispose of general mixed waste destined for landfill and green waste.
After that, fees will apply.
Council says the move is designed to stop the cost of heavy tip use being passed on to all households through annual waste utility charges.
And it has pointed to startling audit figures showing a small group of visitors are responsible for a huge share of the rubbish arriving at the centres.
Council found just 9 per cent of vehicles using the mainland facilities, accounted for about 40 per cent of all landfill and green waste received.
Some vehicles were visiting more than 100 times a year.
Council says the changes will hit only a minority of residents, with nine out of 10 vehicles making fewer than 12 landfill or green-waste trips annually.
That means most households should remain within the free allowance – roughly one visit a month.
But frequent users will now be asked to contribute directly to the extra cost of their visits.
Council says it considered rising waste and recycling costs, as well as how the centres were being used, before introducing the new system.
The authority says without the 12-visit allocation, the waste utility charge increase for the current financial year would have been higher for all ratepayers.
The change does not mean every load will be free until the 13th visit.
Separate fees will apply for waste materials that cost more to process, including bricks and concrete, clean soil, timber and tyres.
Council says those specialised disposal costs should be paid by the people using the service, rather than being subsidised through general waste fees and rates.
Residents can still make unlimited free visits to dispose of many recyclable items.
Council has acknowledged the new arrangement may take some getting used to, particularly for residents accustomed to making regular trips to the tip.
But it says the model is about ensuring the people making the most visits contribute more.
Residents can find details of the new allowances, fees and frequently asked questions on Redland City Council’s website.
