Greater Caloundra residents are paying top dollar for rates but still cop a hefty bill at the dump, unlike their lucky neighbours in Moreton Bay who get free tipping – proving that even our rubbish comes with a premium price tag.
Sunshine Coast ratepayers shell out $464.60 annually for curbside collection of general waste, recycling, and green bins, yet receive no free dump vouchers or hard rubbish curbside collection options.
Meanwhile, just down the highway, Moreton Bay residents pay $386.80 a year for the same curbside collection service – and their local dumps are free to use.
At the Dakabin Waste Management Facility, ratepayers with proof of residency can dump up to three tonnes – or make 26 visits – each financial year without incurring additional charges.
Even Noosa ratepayers, who pay $405.50 per year for curbside collection, face dump fees – but they’re still better off than those using the Sunshine Coast’s landfill sites, where costs hit new highs in 2024/2025.
Night Eyes Water and Land Care Group president Dennis Evans, who oversees the collection of tonnes of illegally dumped waste across greater Caloundra each week, suggested free dump vouchers may “go some way” to deter illegal dumping.
“It most probably would help,” Mr Evans said.
“I have whinged about not having a curbside hard rubbish pick up for years.
“When we moved here 23 years ago they had them, but it has been a long time now since we’ve had one and so there is no capacity for people to store up those bulky items and wait for that pickup to get rid of them.
“Unfortunately, many people will illegally dump bulky items like tyres, mattresses, washing machines, air conditioners and tv’s to avoid paying dump fees because it is expensive.”
Night Eyes frequent the Racecourse Road precinct – a favourite location for illegal dumping – mere metres from the costly Pierce Avenue facility.
“The Council are aware that people use Racecourse Road and Honey Farm Road for illegal dumping and they have cameras set up there to catch them,” he said.
“It would be handy to have a dump voucher for each household once per quarter – I think that would really help.”
He said 75 per cent of Night Eyes work was cleaning up general litter.
“The family with kids who go for a picnic and leave all of their wrappers – that’s a lot of what we pick up,” he said.
“But with State Government tyre dumping regulations changing we are now also finding a lot more tyres, which is a real problem.”
Sunshine Coast – General Waste and Recycling Bins – $388.60 per year
Sunshine Coast – Garden Organics Green Bin – $76 a year
Sunshine Coast – Total Waste Cost per annum – $464.60
Moreton Bay – General Waste and Recycling Bins- $319.80
Moreton Bay – Garden Organics Green Bin – (Beginning 1 March 2025) – $67 a year
Moreton Bay Total Waste Cost per annum – $386.80
Noosa Shire Council – Total Waste Cost per annum – $405.50
According to a Council spokesperson, Sunshine Coast Council operates under the user pays principle, which means that individuals who generate waste are responsible for covering the costs of its disposal.
“This approach ensures that the financial burden is not placed on all ratepayers, including those who do not use the service,” the spokesperson said.
“The user pays principle also encourages waste reduction, reuse and recycling, which are key components of our environmental sustainability efforts.
“At this time, there are no plans to provide dump vouchers or hard item kerbside collections in the 2025-26 financial year.
“However, there are a range of alternative services for disposing of, recycling or selling unwanted items.”
“For more information on large household item disposal and a directory of services that offer collection, please visit our ‘Recycling and waste disposal’ page on Council’s website.”
