Our waste services are for all residents in the Shire, which includes a kerbside collection service, waste management facilities (includes transfer and landfill at respective locations). Other general waste services available consist of the disposal and processing of general waste, recyclables, and organic materials.
As of the start of the 23-24 financial year, the previous contract for the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup waste services that spanned over 10 years expired on 30 June 2023. As such, after an extensive process undertaken by the South West Regional Waste Group, the Shire has a new contract that has been executed with Cleanaway to undertake kerbside collection and disposal services, commencing 1 July 2023.
The South West Regional Waste Group consists of representatives of the following local governments as well as the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup:
Containers for Change
A community-based programme called Containers for Change is managed by the Donnybrook Lions Club that not only encourages sustainability, but gives locals a convenient option to recycle their eligible beverage containers.
The Containers for Change movement is a way for containers to live on, again and again - when you return your 10c containers through this programme, you're playing a part of a bigger cycle where everybody wins. 10c containers are saved from landfill so they can live another life, with the benefit of creating jobs and money going back into the pockets of everyday Western Australians.
donnybrooklions.org.au Follow the Lions Containers for Change Facebook page! www.containersforchange.com.au/wa
What are the Fees and Charges for the 23 / 24 financial year?
View all Fees & Charges
Where do I get my Tip Pass?
In October 2022, the Shire went digital with its Tip Passes. This makes better use of technology and improves processes and systems relevant to the Tip Passes, and ensures that even if you lose the physical copy of your pass, your details and remaining Tip Pass uses are safe and can be reprinted at the Shire Administration Office or emailed/posted to you.
Your Tip Pass can be located on the bottom of your annual rates notice. These paper copies are tearable and have a unique QR Code that corresponds to your individual property, making the allocation process entirely hassle free! The QR Code must be presented to the site attendant at one of the approved Shire waste facilities so that the appropriate number of 'clicks' can be deducted from your pass. This functions the exact same as paper passes, where the amount of 'clicks' is determined by the size and nature of your load of waste.
What are the costs around certain landfill disposals and processing?
MATTRESSES & FURNITURE
Mattresses will incur a $50 (previously $30) fee when dropped off at our waste facilities, and furniture will cost a minimum of $13 + $13 per additional cubic metre (previously $6 + $6). Keep in mind that bulky furniture items (particularly couches) begin at $26 per metre cubed (due to the space they take up in landfill), and any other furniture items are to be charged at the site attendant’s discretion. This is because mattresses and furniture take up valuable landfill space, and mattresses in particular can take hundreds of years to break down. Recycling as many materials as possible from mattresses is our preferred method of processing, which is now covered in the cost of the item you’re disposing of (our last agreement didn’t have this set in clear terms or covered in the costs properly).
To tackle these charges and fees, you could enquire about any ‘take back’ policies your preferred supplier may have for mattresses, or look at reusing, gifting, or donating secondhand furniture if it’s still in reasonable condition. Why not plan an outdoor DIY session this Spring?
There is provision for disposal of furniture to be charged at half the rate if it is considered reusable or recyclable, however this will be at the discretion of the site attendant.
GREEN WASTE & MOVING FORWARD
Green waste disposal will now cost $5, or one ‘click’ per cubic metre for domestic loads (commercial loads have always incurred a fee). This is because the general costs of processing waste are rising, so the charge means people who dispose of green waste will contribute to covering the associated costs. We are always looking towards a greener future and to improve our education around environmental care and wise waste. We encourage you to reach out to learn more or ask any questions you may have - your question could help someone else learn a way to avoid waste!
If you know a local organisation or club that provides resources like these too, please share their pages (websites or social media accounts) with us and let us know what they do, so that we can help spread the word too.
What do I do if my bin is missing, damaged, or has been stolen?
To order a new bin, replacement bin (broken/stolen), or to discuss bin repair, please contact the Shire Office on (08) 9780 4200. Once we collect the relevant information from you, we send a report to Cleanaway. From here, replacements and the collection of waste from missed kerbside bins are conducted throughout Friday.
If your collection was missed, Call Cleanaway directly on (08) 9724 7905. This number is exclusive to the Shire and its residents - by contacting Cleanaway direct, they can contact their truck drivers and assist you with getting your rubbish collected sooner.
More about Kerbside Bin Collection
What do the different Recycling Codes mean on different items?
The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) introduced a code system in 1988 that helps with recycling plastic by numbers. Almost all plastic products bear the general recycling symbol: a triangle formed by three circling arrows. The number in the triangle indicates the type of plastic. There are six common types of plastic and one miscellaneous category with the number 7. Though the codes serve no real purpose in terms of waste separation, the recycling code can be used by consumers to make a distinction between plastics that would be safer to use than other plastics. You can read more on the Information Sheet below:
Recycling Codes - Information Sheet
What has changed in the waste services space in 2023?
The previous contract for the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup waste services spanned over 10 years, and expired on 30 June 2023. As such, after an extensive regional procurement process undertaken by the South West Regional Waste Group, the Shire is pleased to formally announce that a contract has been executed with Cleanaway to undertake kerbside collection and disposal services, commencing 1 July 2023.
Naturally, over a 10 year period (as of the time of the end of the previous agreement, and the start of the new agreement), a lot of change has taken place in the waste market. This has caused an increase in costs for waste management services not just for our Shire, but across the entire state of WA. Recyclable and general waste have increased in cost due to various influences, such as the cost of processing particular items at a waste site such as a mattress or e-waste (phones, TVs, etc). We are also proud of our community for their efforts in being wise with their waste, as there has been no reports of contamination of the organics waste throughout the 22-23 financial year, through to August 2023! We are very proud of our community for their efforts.
Despite these changes in the waste market and space, our waste services have not changed. We still have kerbside waste management services that consisted of the collection, disposal, and processing of general waste, recyclables, and organic materials. We also still have our 3-bin and 2-bin services, alongside optional individual bin services. Some restrictions apply to certain areas within the Shire, such as the differentiation of 3-bin and 2-bin areas.