Toowoomba waste charges rise in 2026/27 as landfill levy and collection fees are adopted

Toowoomba Regional Council has adopted its 2026/27 waste management charges, including a waste facilities and landfill rehabilitation levy, collection fees and other charges that will apply across the region from 1 July.

The waste charging model covers residential and commercial waste collection, recycling and greenwaste. Council says the fees are designed to recover the cost of waste service administration, planning, delivery and improvement of existing and new waste facilities, waste minimisation and reduction education, and the post-closure rehabilitation of landfill sites.

The adopted settings also place a waste management utility charge on rateable land within the region. In addition, rural properties that do not receive a council collection service can still be charged where waste is generated or capable of being generated from a domestic component.

Council says waste charges are collected on a user-pays basis for the removal and disposal of waste. The package also includes a State Waste Levy for commercial waste collection only.

The new structure sits within a wider 2026/27 budget adopted by council, which also covers sewerage and water charges. Other region-wide imposts include the public transport levy, rural fire equipment levy and gates and grids permit renewal levy, each separate from the waste charges.

For households, businesses and some rural landholders, the change means waste collection and landfill rehabilitation costs will be built into 2026/27 bills rather than absorbed elsewhere in the budget. Council says the levy is part of funding the rehabilitation of closed landfill sites as well as the ongoing cost of waste services.

The charges apply from the 2026/27 financial year, when council begins issuing rate notices and applying the adopted waste service program.