Victoria’s landfill almost at capacity, set to be exhausted in four years

Victorians face higher rubbish collection charges amid warnings the state is almost full to the brim with trash. A new report warned landfill capacity will be exhausted in just four years.

On average Victorian properties paid $205 per year for rubbish collection, this cost is tipped to increase. Picture: Luis Ascui

Victorians face being slugged higher rubbish collection charges amid warnings the state is almost full to the brim with trash.

A Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) report into council waste management services has warned landfill capacity will be exhausted in just four years without urgent action.

“The current volume of approved landfill capacity is forecast to be sufficient for Melbourne’s needs only to 2026,” it said.

“Without state action to increase disposal capacity, prices may increase for councils to dispose waste.”

The report, published in December, warned the crisis, the impact of export bans and other changes across the sector would likely see “significant” increases in costs to ratepayers.

Currently Victorians send four million tonnes of waste to landfill each year.

Latest figures reveal Victoria’s 79 councils spent $556.4 million, or 78.8 per cent of their total waste management costs, providing kerbside services.

On average Victorian properties paid $205 per year for rubbish collection, but that cost is tipped to increase.

Garbage collector Michael Crosetta, pictured at the City of Parramatta operations centre in Rydalmere. Picture: Jonathan Ng

MAV President David Clark called on the state government to urgently address the looming capacity issue.

Cr Clark blamed rising waste management costs on the government’s decision to increase its Waste Levy by 90 per cent over two years.

“Waste management is just one of many portfolios where council budgets are under pressure,” he said.

“Rising operational costs, combined with the state government’s rate cap and pandemic recovery, mean councils across the state will have to make difficult decisions on future services and investment.

“For metropolitan councils, the Waste Levy rate per tonne increased by $40 last year and will increase by a further $20 this year.”

“The state government could be investing this money into waste management issues, yet it is diverting much of it to consolidated revenue to pay for non-waste related services.

“The state government needs to immediately ensure the funds from the Waste Levy are being used for the purpose they were intended, such as waste avoidance and managing unavoidable waste in an environmentally sustainable way. Doing so would help avert the looming crisis in waste management.”

Rubbish Melbourne. Thousands of seagulls scavenge from a rubbish dump in the eastern suburbs landfill site.

Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change Cindy McLeish called for urgent state government intervention.

“Victoria has only five years until landfill capacity is reached, the Andrews Labor Government botched their waste management framework and now have to quickly dig their way out, she said.

“Daniel Andrews needs to be proactive and support councils in their efforts to find alternative solutions.”

Ms McLeish said the Liberal Nationals Zero to Landfill initiative would transform waste management in Victoria to create energy from household waste by 2035.

But Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said a new four-stream household waste bin and recycling system would see thousands of tonnes of waste being diverted from landfill.”

The government has set ambitious targets to divert 72 per cent of waste from landfill by 2025 and 80 per cent by 2030.

A worker pushes a bin at Melbourne's Flinders Street station. Picture: William West

Ms D’Ambrosio defended the government’s current waste management initiatives, and said increasing costs for landfill encouraged recycling.

“The Andrews Labor Government has made an unprecedented $515 million investment to deliver the biggest transformation and reform of Victoria’s waste and recycling sector ever, and has set a target to divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030,” she said.

“That investment has gone towards new recycling infrastructure, innovation for businesses to increase recycling capacity and community education. We’ve also introduced bans on problematic waste materials and introduced stronger laws and regulations.”