FAQs

From 1 March 2026, the Gracemere Waste Facility will open 7am to 3pm on weekends, giving residents earlier access. Weekday hours remain the same, 9am to 3pm.

For a full overview of all seven Council waste facilities, including maps and accepted materials, visit Council’s Landfill and Waste Facilities webpage and download the “What can I drop off and where (includes map & opening hours)” factsheet.

Council is running a three‑month trial from 1 March 2026 at the Gracemere Waste Facility only, to give commercial customers, those using vehicles 4.5 tonnes GVM or less, the opportunity to dispose of cardboard and scrap metal (including white goods).

The trial supports Gracemere’s growth by helping Council understand how the facility can better meet the needs of both local businesses and the community.

It will assess whether commercial and domestic customers can safely and efficiently share the site, while also collecting information on usage, materials and demand to determine whether a long‑term commercial service is viable at the facility.

The trial is open to Gracemere‑based businesses using vehicles 4.5 tonnes GVM or less.

A waste load is classified as commercial if any of the following apply:

• The waste is generated from a business activity, or
• The person delivering the waste is being paid to do so, or
• The waste does not originate from your principal place of residence, including loads delivered in vehicles with business signage or registered for commercial use.

The trial begins 1 March 2026 and will run for three months to allow Council to collect meaningful data on usage, safety and demand. If the trial period needs to be extended, Council will advise the community.

Once the trial concludes, Council will review the findings, assess the long‑term feasibility of offering a commercial service at the Gracemere Waste Facility, and share the outcome with the public.

Commercial customers can dispose of cardboard and scrap metal, including white goods, during the trial. No other waste types are permitted.

Commercial customers must:

• Sort their loads so cardboard and scrap metal are separated from other waste types, which aren’t permitted for disposal.
• Remove polystyrene from inside cardboard and place it in the polystyrene recycling trailer.
  • Note: commercial loads of polystyrene are not permitted as part of this trial and must be taken to the Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility.
• Remove general waste from cardboard and scrap metal, such as plastic strapping and soft plastics, which can be found in cardboard packaging.
  • Note: 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. Commercial loads of general waste are not permitted during the trial and must be taken to the Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility.

Clean, flat‑packed cardboard is free to drop off in quantities under 4.5 tonnes.

Scrap metal is also free to dispose of.

Fridges, freezers and air conditioners have a processing fee of $10 per unit.

If any general waste is present, a minimum charge of $20 per load (less than 240L) applies for commercial customers.

All domestic and commercial fees and charges are available on Council’s Landfill and Waste Facilities webpage, along with the downloadable factsheet.

Yes. Domestic and commercial customers using the Gracemere Waste Facility are encouraged to complete a quick, anonymous online survey about their experience during the trial. You can access the survey via this Engage webpage.

The Rockhampton Region has seven waste facilities.

• Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility accepts both domestic and commercial waste.
• The rural facilities at Alton Downs, Bajool, Bouldercombe, Bushley, and Mount Morgan accept domestic waste only.

For a full overview of all seven Council waste facilities, including maps and accepted materials, visit Council’s Landfill and Waste Facilities webpage and download the “What can I drop off and where (includes map & opening hours)” factsheet.