The NSW Government has announced it will waive the waste levy for four Local Government Areas (LGAs) affected by recent bushfires across the state.
Under the the Waste Levy Exemption, residents impacted by bushfires in the Central Coast, MidCoast, Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook LGAs will be able to dispose of damaged items at landfill sites without paying the waste levy fee until 30 April 2026.
The exemption applies to bushfire-related waste on public and private land, including damaged building materials, furniture, carpet, fallen trees, garden debris and other items.
“As people begin to pick up the pieces of their lives after the devastation of the weekend, it’s important we support them in any way we can,” said Central Coast MP, David Harris.
“Lifting of the waste levy fee not only frees up a financial burden, it streamlines the process of clean up for people, which in turn enables them to get on to the rebuild phase.
“Our community is resilient, and we will support each other throughout this disaster and the clean-up and rebuilding process ahead.”
Landfill operators may still charge their own operational cost to manage waste, also known as a gate or tip fee. Residents should check with their council before visiting their local tip to ensure it can accept waste, the Government said in a statement.
Councils can activate the exemption by contacting the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and nominating which facilities they would like to use to dispose of disaster waste.
The EPA will continue to monitor conditions and consider additional exemptions if required, the Government said.
