Here we GO – free green bins roll out across Ipswich
12 June 2025
More than 55,000 Ipswich households are in the process of receiving their free garden organics (GO) green bin, joining the more than 30,000 existing household GO bins, as the city moves from a standard two-bin system to a three-bin system.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said most households would receive their free GO bin ahead of collections for the new three-bin service beginning on 1 July, allowing them to divert items such as garden clipping, weeds, branches, leaves and dead flowers from ending up in landfill.
“This is one of the most significant changes to the household bin collection service in our city’s history, and the best part is that the service comes at no additional cost to ratepayers,” Mayor Harding said.
“With the support of funding from the Queensland Government, a green bin is now being delivered to every Ipswich household for free. Ipswich will be one of the first councils in Queensland to introduce the green bin as a permanent addition to its red and yellow bins.
“Most residents don’t realise the Queensland Government charges councils a waste levy for each tonne of waste sent to landfill, so the more waste we divert from landfill, the more savings we create for Ipswich ratepayers.
“Not only will a three-bin service reduce costs for ratepayers, but it is also a win for our environment as we divert thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill each year.”
Mayor Harding said the introduction of the green bin is expected to recover between 15,000 and 20,000 additional tonnes of green waste in the coming financial year.
“As a result of the escalating costs of the Queensland Government’s waste levy, operating a three-bin system will be about $10 cheaper per household than maintaining the current two-bin system, because there will be less waste going to landfill,” Mayor Harding said.
“In 2025-2026, the levy on councils is $125 per tonne, and that figure will rise to $135 in 2026-2027 and to $145 the year after that. At the same time, the rebate provided to councils that has previously offset the waste levy will also start decreasing.
“Recovering this additional green waste will save Ipswich ratepayers approximately $1 million in 2025-2026, as the net benefit between waste levy savings and service costs.”
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson Councillor Jim Madden said Ipswich was at the forefront of transforming the way waste is managed.
“The way we manage waste must change,” Cr Madden said.
“The green bin service will become just like residents’ red and yellow bins – they are there if needed.
“Just like some residents choose to take cans to a recycling centre instead of putting them in their yellow-lid bins, we understand some households do their own composting or have other arrangements in place for their garden waste.
“However, the green bin comes at no extra cost to ratepayers whether they choose to use it or not.
“Many residents do currently use their red bin to dispose of things like grass clippings, weeds and leaves.
“By moving to a three-bin system, we can divert this type of waste from landfill and save ratepayers, while helping the environment, significantly by doing so.”
About 32,000 households already have an existing green bin from council under opt-in arrangements.
Those households do not need to do anything and will have their existing opt-in charge of $80 removed once the new citywide three-bin service starts.
A small percentage of properties, such as units, will not be included in the citywide rollout but council will engage with these households directly to discuss alternative solutions with them.
Collections for the Ipswich City Council three-bin service begins on 1 July, on the alternate week to yellow bin services.
For more information visit Ipswich.qld.gov.au/organics