Community feedback has shaped the design of a full cost recovery waste charge to be introduced from July 2026.

What you told us during consultation

We heard from close to 1,000 people across a phone survey, online survey, ten listening posts across Monash and focus group sessions with the community leaders who make up Council’s Community Advisory Committees.

The consistent themes of feedback across all methods of engagement were:

• Affordability and transparency: With rising costs of living, affordability of the proposed change was a focus with people concerned about adding additional strain to household budgets.

• Proposed support measures: There was strong support for the proposed financial support measures.

• Fairness and equity: While there was broad community support that the proposed charge was fair in principle, some people thought Council should be doing more for people who produce less waste

• More information and further communication: There is strong community interest in ensuring more communications on the waste charge, including transparent information about waste costs and how the charge is calculated.

• Glass bin feedback: There was strong opposition to the Victorian Government’s introduction of a glass bin.

How we responded to feedback

This feedback is informing how we implement the waste charge:

• Council will introduce financial support measures for concession card holders, people experiencing hardship and households with lower property values. This includes anyone on the age pension, disability support pension, carer payment, JobSeeker payment, youth allowance and single parenting payment.

• We are investigating different bin sizes, including the option of a smaller 80 litre bin at a cheaper price point for households that produce less waste and to incentivise waste reduction.

• A communications program will explain how the charge is calculated and provide transparent information on the costs for Council to manage waste.

• We will continue our advocacy to the Victorian Government to expand their Container Deposit Scheme and delay the introduction of an additional glass bin service.

Read our engagement report.