BE PREPARED to see more rubbish dumped on the side of roads, that’s the consensus from Bass Coast residents after waste levy fees rose significantly in line with the start of the new financial year today. 

The waste disposal fees for Bass Coast Shire from July 1 have been blamed primarily on a 28 per cent increase in waste levy rates imposed by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

The Shire has budgeted to spend $22.7 million on waste services in 2025/26 including delivery and management of waste services ($16 million), landfill rehabilitation ($5.1 million) and waste facility improvements ($1.6 million).

Waste charges for Bass Coast Shire in 2025/26 are expected to raise $18.9 million.

A 120L bag of general waste at a Bass Coast waste facility will now cost $10 up from $8, whilst a caged 6x4 trailer load at Wonthaggi Transfer Station will jump from $142 to $190. 

Hold onto your wallet though, a tandem caged trailer will set one back $755 up from $369. 

One local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “It’s terrible, we’re in a recession, people cannot afford the fees as they are. Watch the backroads they’ll be littered with rubbish!”

Bass Coast Shire’s budget bottom line has been significantly impacted by increased waste compliance costs in 2025/26 including the old landfill rehabilitation.

According to Council, they will be monitoring and investigating reports of illegally dumped rubbish and litter, though multiple questions have been raised with one Wonthaggi resident stating “It will cost ratepayers more because they’ll be cleaning up the backroads – they can’t install cameras on all the backroads.

“We saw what happened when the prices of mattresses jumped up, and they were suddenly dumped everywhere.”

Another resident questioned how it would affect tradespeople who have already quoted rubbish removal with the new jump a significant increase (depending on the trade).

Local family-owned business, Wheel-a-Waste, have also been caught up in the EPA levy increases. Though they have been able to keep some 
products at last financial year’s cost according to a letter sent out to customers, after also absorbing the 2024/25 year increases without passing them on.

Bass Coast Shire Council aims to reduce waste to landfill in accordance with the State Government’s Towards Zero Waste strategy through waste and recycling education programs, though with no “free” hard rubbish week and no tip vouchers anymore, it’s only a matter of time before the backroads are littered.