Gracemere Waste Facility Changes

From 1 March 2026, the Gracemere Waste Facility will introduce new weekend opening hours and begin a three‑month commercial customer trial.

New Weekend Hours

To give the community earlier access, the facility will now open from 7am to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekday hours remain 9am to 3pm.

Commercial Customer Trial

A trial will run for three months to help Council understand the needs of local commercial customers and assess whether long‑term commercial access is feasible.

The trial applies only at the Gracemere Waste Facility and is available to Gracemere‑based commercial customers using vehicles 4.5 tonnes GVM or less. Eligible materials include cardboard and scrap metal, including white goods.

Requirements for Commercial Customers

To keep the site safe and efficient, participating customers will need to:

  • Sort loads so cardboard and scrap metal are separated from all other waste types, which aren’t permitted for disposal.

  • Remove polystyrene from cardboard and place it in the polystyrene recycling trailer.

    • Commercial loads of polystyrene are not permitted as part of this trial.

  • Remove general waste from cardboard and scrap metal, such as plastic strapping and soft plastics, which can be found in cardboard packaging.

    • Only small amounts of residual waste will be accepted at the Gracemere Waste Facility, less than 240 litres in size and will be charged at the minimum charge for commercial general waste disposal.

What to Expect During the Trial

Council will have additional controls in place to safely manage vehicle movements and interactions between domestic and commercial customers. Staff may adjust operations as needed, particularly in the early weeks, and the community is encouraged to be patient while the trial settles in.

At the end of the three‑month period, Council will review the results and consider whether a long‑term commercial service is viable.

Provide Feedback

Community members and local commercial customers can share feedback by completing the survey below.

From 1 March 2026, the Gracemere Waste Facility will introduce new weekend opening hours and begin a three‑month commercial customer trial.

New Weekend Hours

To give the community earlier access, the facility will now open from 7am to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekday hours remain 9am to 3pm.

Commercial Customer Trial

A trial will run for three months to help Council understand the needs of local commercial customers and assess whether long‑term commercial access is feasible.

The trial applies only at the Gracemere Waste Facility and is available to Gracemere‑based commercial customers using vehicles 4.5 tonnes GVM or less. Eligible materials include cardboard and scrap metal, including white goods.

Requirements for Commercial Customers

To keep the site safe and efficient, participating customers will need to:

  • Sort loads so cardboard and scrap metal are separated from all other waste types, which aren’t permitted for disposal.

  • Remove polystyrene from cardboard and place it in the polystyrene recycling trailer.

    • Commercial loads of polystyrene are not permitted as part of this trial.

  • Remove general waste from cardboard and scrap metal, such as plastic strapping and soft plastics, which can be found in cardboard packaging.

    • Only small amounts of residual waste will be accepted at the Gracemere Waste Facility, less than 240 litres in size and will be charged at the minimum charge for commercial general waste disposal.

What to Expect During the Trial

Council will have additional controls in place to safely manage vehicle movements and interactions between domestic and commercial customers. Staff may adjust operations as needed, particularly in the early weeks, and the community is encouraged to be patient while the trial settles in.

At the end of the three‑month period, Council will review the results and consider whether a long‑term commercial service is viable.

Provide Feedback

Community members and local commercial customers can share feedback by completing the survey below.

  • Starting 1 March 2026, Rockhampton Regional Council will commence a three-month trial to help understand the needs of local commercial operators.

    The trial applies only at the Gracemere Waste Facility and is available to Gracemere‑based commercial operators using vehicles 4.5 tonnes GVM or less. Eligible materials include cardboard and scrap metal, including white goods.

    Customers using the Gracemere Waste Facility are encouraged to complete this quick, anonymous online survey about their experience during the trial period. The feedback collected will help inform Council’s decision on the long‑term viability of offering a commercial service at this facility, for cardboard and scrap metal.

    PRIVACY NOTICE

    Participation in this survey is voluntary. Council will use the information you supply in this survey for the purpose of gauging community feedback on the proposed commercial trial. Council deals with personal information in accordance with law, including the Information Privacy Act 2009.

    Take Survey
Page last updated: 16 Feb 2026, 04:21 PM