Brisbane City Council kerbside collection services delayed due to volume of waste

More than 60 suburbs across Brisbane are yet to have rubbish picked up as part of council’s kerbside collection service following an increase in dumped goods.

Kerbside collection left on Green Terrace, Windsor. Picture: Liam Kidston

Demand for kerbside collection services has caused delayed pick ups on Brisbane streets forcing Brisbane City Council to put clean up crews on weekends to clear the backlog.

Council has completed collections in 117 suburbs this financial year to date, with 67 remaining in the schedule for the free annual collection.

But a 30 per cent increase in the volume of waste has seen kerbs, footpaths and street corners piled up with furniture, whitegoods, barbecues, mattresses, toys and other household items for more than a week after some collections were due to start.

Kerbside collection left on Green Terrace, Windsor. Picture: Liam Kidston

Scheduled collections beginning February 10 in Everton Park and Windsor are yet to be completed, while services set to begin from Monday in Morningside and Bulimba could also be delayed.

Hemmant, Lytton and Wynnum collections are due to start on March 3.

More than 10,150 tonnes of items have been collected through the kerbside collection service between July 2024 and January 2025.

By comparison, around 7800 tonnes was collected during the same period last year.

The most common items disposed of so far include mattresses, furniture such as desks, bookshelves, couches and exercise equipment.

Civic Cabinet Chair for City Standards Sarah Hutton said kerbside collection was a hugely popular service.

It was controversially paused in 2020 in a bid to save $13 million but resumed in July 2021.

“From time to time, the volume of material put out for collection increases unexpectedly which can impact time frames,” Cr Hutton said.

“To deal with the current extra demand in Everton Park and Windsor, our hardworking crews have shifted to collecting on weekends to get the job done.”

Rubbish piling up at Everton Park as kerbside collections are overdue.

Council’s Opposition Labor leader Jared Cassidy said delays were “a kick in the guts” for residents who paid rates.

“Kerbside collection is an essential service and Adrian Schrinner has never taken that seriously,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if kerbside collection is now falling victim to the LNP Council’s savage cuts to council staff and contractors.”

Cr Hutton said around 50 per cent of material placed on the kerb was repurposed by residents while a further 3300 piles of steel and metal have been collected for recycling this financial year to date.

Residents are advised to only put their items out the weekend prior to their designated collection week.

Rubbish piling up at Everton Park as kerbside collections are overdue.

Originally published as Brisbane City Council kerbside collection services delayed due to volume of waste