CLOSED: This petition has concluded.

Support the Redlands Green Waste Reform Initiative: Fair & Accessible Waste Disposal

Principal Petitioner: Matthew De Castro

Closing Date: 4.30pm Tuesday, 13 May 2025

At 10 signatures, this petition will be considered properly made.

Petition Request:

Small businesses in Redlands, including lawn maintenance and gardening services, provide essential support to elderly and disadvantaged residents who cannot manage their own green waste. However, the current disposal system creates financial and logistical barriers. While residents can dispose of their green waste for free, those who rely on small businesses must pay high disposal fees, forcing businesses to increase costs or refuse green waste services altogether.

This unfair system places a burden on both local businesses and vulnerable residents. Without action, many will struggle to afford essential services, leading to potential neglect of properties, increased illegal dumping, and environmental harm.

We call on Redland City Council to implement a Green Waste Reform Initiative to ensure fair and sustainable green waste disposal for all. Our proposed solutions include:

Green Waste Coupons – Council-issued vouchers for eligible residents to cover disposal costs when using small businesses.
Subsidized Collection Services – Incentives for small businesses to offer discounted green waste collection for eligible residents.
Partnerships with Local Businesses – Encouraging businesses to engage in responsible waste management initiatives.
Residential Evidence Program – A verification system allowing businesses to claim council support for waste disposal.

Other councils, including Logan and Brisbane, have successfully introduced similar programs. Redlands cannot afford to fall behind. By signing this petition, you support a fairer system that helps small businesses, protects vulnerable residents, and promotes environmental sustainability.

Petition Outcome:

The petition was presented by Cr Shane Rendalls at the General Meeting held on Wednesday 21 May 2025. The matter was defined as operational in nature and referred to the Chief Executive Officer for consideration.

Council investigated the petition request and provided a response to the Principal Petitioner on 25 June 2025 as follows:

We appreciate your innovative suggestions to improve access to waste management services by elderly and disadvantaged residents on Redlands Coast, including:

Green Waste Coupons – Council-issued vouchers for eligible residents to cover disposal costs when using small businesses.

Subsidised Collection Services – Incentives for small businesses to offer discounted green waste collection for eligible residents.

Partnerships with Local Businesses – Encouraging businesses to engage in responsible waste management initiatives.

Residential Evidence Program – A verification system allowing businesses to claim council support for waste disposal.

These ideas reflect your strong community focus and a desire to reduce environmental impact while supporting vulnerable residents and small businesses.

In response, we would like to highlight several existing services that Council already provide to the community that are closely aligned to your initiative:

• Kerbside Green Waste Collection Service – the fortnightly collection service is available to mainland residents seeking a convenient and sustainable way to manage garden waste. Small businesses engaged by the resident may utilise the garden organics bin at the premises to avoid having to transport and dispose of green waste at a council waste facility.

• In-Home Collection Services – available to eligible mainland and island residents who are physically unable to present their recycling or green waste bins at the kerb on collection day. This service involves the collection vehicle driver retrieving the bin from the property, emptying it, and returning it to its original location.

• Flexible Bin Menu – Council enables all mainland and island households to downsize their general waste bin and add a green waste collection service which results in no additional cost and in most cases may provide a saving on a residences annual rates bill.

• Bulky Item Collection Service – an annual service available to eligible mainland and island residents who meet the eligibility criteria, including elderly residents and/or residents with a disability, for the collection of up to three bulky items per household.

• Commercial Vehicle Waiver – eight waste disposal fee waivers available each year for mainland and island households where the only vehicle suitable for the transport of waste is a commercial vehicle. Subject to conditions and eligibility.

We acknowledge that NDIS funding or Home Care Packages generally include the costs associated with the maintenance of gardens supporting elderly and disadvantaged in staying in their own homes for both mainland and islands residents. However, these funding packages do not currently cover green waste disposal fees, which can leave a gap in financial support for some residents. However, this gap can be bridged with Council’s fortnightly kerbside green waste collection service in combination with the flexible bin menu.

While Council does not currently provide a kerbside green waste collection service to the islands, we are actively investigating a policy/ procedure update that will support residents who have an eligible NDIS funding package or Home Care Package to improve accessibility to Council waste handling facilitites.

Council’s annual budget is developed to reflect the agreed levels of service for the wider community that strike the balance between value for money and amenity. While Council is committed to supporting inclusion and sustainability, any new initiatives must be evaluated within this broader fiscal context and through the annual budget development process. At this point in time, Council endorses the current levels of service.

It’s also important to note that under Queensland law, commercial waste is defined as waste generated through business activities, or any waste that is transported for a fee—even if it comes from a residential property. This definition is reflected in Council’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery Policy (WST-003-P) and helps guide how services are delivered and funded. Councils across South-East Queensland use this same definition when applying commercial waste disposal fees. This approach ensures that businesses cover the cost of their own waste, rather than placing that burden on residential ratepayers. Subsidising services to some businesses would create an unfair advantage and place others at a disadvantage. That said, Council does offer Commercial Vehicle Waivers for households where the only available vehicle for transporting waste is classified as a commercial vehicle.

Your reference to successful programs offered by Logan and Brisbane City Councils provides valuable insights and will be considered as Council continues to benchmark its waste and recycling services across South-East Queensland. Unlike most other local governments, Redland City Council does not charge residents to dispose of residential waste generated and transported by their own means. Vouchers can be problematic and costly to administer however as mentioned above Council does offer very specific waste disposal fee exemptions (eight trips per annum) for households who only have access to their commercial vehicle as a means to transport waste.

Redland City Council calls for tenders for its waste and resource recovery services on a regular basis. Council actively engages with local businesses to encourage participation in competitive tender processes for the delivery of essential waste management services. In fact, over 90 local residents are employed in the delivery of Council’s contracted waste services.

Thank you once again for your advocacy and for contributing meaningfully to the future of waste management in Redlands.