The City of Greater Bendigo will pay almost $10 million in landfill levies over two years, as it begins to feel the strain of being a central collection point for the region’s commercial waste.
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Waste businesses from neighbouring shires are attracted to Eaglehawk landfill due to the seemingly limitless amount of material it accepts.
Only medical and liquid waste are not received at the site.
Related: Where next for Bendigo’s waste?
City of Greater Bendigo resource recovery and education manager Brooke Pearce said it was conceivably too late for the council to change what materials it accepted, given the Eaglehawk landfill is expected to close in 2021-22.
“If we don't accept that waste we don't know where it will end up so that's a risk,” she said.
“If we discontinue the use of commercial business disposing at our landfill we would hate to see illegal dumping occur.”
The council paid close to $5 million to the Environmental Protection Authority in 2016-17 in levies, a figure which will be almost identical this financial year.
A levy of $63.28/tonne of waste is charged by the EPA, with the council expected to dispose of close to 100,000 tonnes this financial year.
Ms Pearce said the figure had increased significantly since 2016, as council had run out of space at the tip to dig ‘fill’, or dirt, to cover waste each day, which was a requirement of the EPA licence.
As such, the council would transport fill from elsewhere, which was also charged per tonne by the EPA.
To reduce costs, some waste is transported to Patho landfill near Torumbarry for disposal.
As a rural landfill, Patho only attracts half of the EPA levy – an overall cheaper option for the City of Greater Bendigo.
Related: Worrying strain on landfill
A waste transfer station was being considered after the landfill closes in 2021-22, Ms Pearce said.
A number of recommendations for the future of waste within the municipality have been made as part of the council’s waste review, the details of which are expected to be made public shortly.
A waste-to-energy plant, smaller versions of which are being trialled in other central Victorian shires, remains an option, but not in the short-term, Ms Pearce said.
“We’re interested in the technology, it’s just finding the right one,” she said.
Australia’s first waste-to-energy plant was built in 2014, and more recently a $500 million facility has been earmarked for Western Sydney.