New Landfill Charges Coming January 1

Starting January 1, some charges at the landfill are increasing. This follows the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Board’s adoption of new fees on December 12. It has been eleven years since some of these fees were increased.  

Like many other local governments, the SCRD’s Solid Waste Management Plan and the SCRD Board support a user pay system, where the tipping fees fund the full costs of those materials that are diverted for recycling. So, as transportation, recycling and operating costs increase, so unfortunately does the tipping fee associated with these materials. Rates were last updated in 2021 for recyclables and eleven years ago, in 2013 for garbage. 

The table below outlines the changes to disposal of cardboard and mattresses and includes a schedule of increases for the next three years for metal and garbage. As the landfill runs out of capacity, the SCRD estimates the cost of garbage disposal will rise as we need to invest in new infrastructure to manage waste on the Sunshine Coast and save for closing the landfill in an environmentally safe manner.  

Cardboard and scrap metal are both highly recyclable and should not be in the garbage. To make sure recyclables can be properly recycled it is highly recommended to sort and store materials in a way that doesn’t impact on their ability to be recycled. 

For example, cardboard can become contaminated and unrecyclable if it is covered in oil or grease when it is stored with other garbage.   

 Residents can avoid fees for cardboard and metal for everyday appliances like vacuums and other small appliances by going to a local depot and recycling for free instead of bringing it to the landfill.   

For more information on the fees and what materials are accepted at the landfill, visit www.scrd.ca/landfill