Perth has the cheapest bulk tip fees of any Australian capital because Western Australia's landfill levy is $90 per tonne in 2026-27, half of Melbourne's. Tamala Park charges $291.50 per tonne for general and green waste with a $29.15 minimum; the EMRC's Red Hill facility $236 per tonne with a $46 car minimum; the City of Stirling's Recycling Centre Balcatta $51 for loads up to 300 kg and $315 per tonne beyond; the West Metro Recycling Centre at Shenton Park $35 per half cubic metre of bulk waste for member-council residents; and the City of Cockburn's Henderson commercial weighbridge $217 per tonne including GST with a $100 minimum. All 2026-27 figures from the operators.
Perth tip fees at a glance (2026-27)
| Facility | Where | General waste | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamala Park (Mindarie Regional Council) | Northern suburbs | $291.50 per tonne general and green; minimum $29.15 up to 100 kg | Mattress $43.50; tyres $30.50; cash or EFTPOS; weigh in, weigh out |
| Red Hill Waste Management Facility (EMRC) | 1094 Toodyay Rd, Red Hill (east) | $236 per tonne general (member councils and commercial); commercial minimum $118 (0.5 t) | Car $46; van or ute $78; 6×4 trailer $78, high sides $97; garden organics $65 (members) / $98 (commercial) per tonne; Mon–Sat 8–4, Sun 10–4 |
| Recycling Centre Balcatta (City of Stirling) | 238 Balcatta Rd | Mixed general waste $51 up to 300 kg, then $315 per tonne | Green $28.30 / $90 per tonne; construction $40 / $133 per tonne; free cans, cardboard, e-waste, scrap metal; no asbestos; Mon–Fri 7–4, Sat 7:30–4, Sun 8–4 |
| West Metro Recycling Centre (WMRC) | Brockway Rd, Shenton Park | Bulk waste $35 per 0.5 m³; green waste $20 per 0.5 m³ (member-council residents) | Entry free for member residents; mattress $55; household hazardous waste and e-waste free; from 6 July 2026 |
| Henderson Waste Recovery Park (City of Cockburn), commercial weighbridge | 920 Rockingham Rd, Henderson (south) | $217 per tonne inc GST for mixed solid, green, C&I and C&D waste; minimum $100 per load | Trucks only; contaminated waste $220 per tonne; burial $275–367; weighbridge Mon–Fri 7–4, Sat 8–1; discounts up to 10% for major customers |
Where the price comes from
The WA waste levy is $90 per tonne for the Perth metropolitan region from 1 July 2026, scheduled to reach $93 in 2027-28 and $97 by 2029-30 (WA waste levy rate schedule). On Henderson's $217 per tonne the levy is about 41% of the price; on Balcatta's $315 about 29%. The three regional-council facilities (Tamala Park, Red Hill, West Metro) price member-council residents at or near cost and everyone else at a commercial rate, so the same trailer can cost very different amounts depending on where you live and which gate you use.
Resident versus commercial
West Metro is free to enter for member-council residents and charges by half cubic metre; Red Hill has a member-council rate and a commercial rate with a half-tonne minimum; Balcatta gives City of Stirling residents tip passes worth up to a tonne per visit; Henderson's commercial weighbridge is truck-only. A business without a resident's pass should assume the commercial column everywhere.
What is free in Perth
Scrap metal, cans and cardboard at Balcatta; household hazardous waste and e-waste at West Metro; scheme e-waste at most sites. Mattresses are charged everywhere ($43.50 Tamala Park, $55 West Metro) and tyres at Tamala Park are $30.50 each.
For a business in Perth: tip runs versus a scheduled bin
Gate fees are for occasional loads. Once someone is driving to the tip every week, a scheduled bin is almost always cheaper: the collector's per-lift price already contains the state levy, and it removes the vehicle, the fuel and the hour of someone's time each trip. Bundle Waste's published benchmarks are Melbourne's (a weekly-collected 1100L general-waste bin is $110–245 a month there in 2026); for Perth we benchmark quotes on request against the same provider network. Send your last invoice and we will tell you whether the gate or the bin is winning.
Ways to pay less at the gate
- Sort before you go. Cardboard, scrap metal, e-waste and batteries are free at most facilities; hidden recyclables inside a mixed load are charged at the general rate.
- Know the minimum charge. Small loads are billed at the minimum regardless of weight; combine half-loads.
- Use the weighbridge for dense waste. Soil, concrete and timber are usually cheaper by the tonne than by trailer size, and clean concrete or brick has its own low rate at most gates.
- Green waste separately. Typically 40–60% cheaper than general waste at the same facility.
- Resident vouchers where your council issues them; they never apply to commercial loads.
Sources
- Mindarie Regional Council, Tamala Park fees and charges 2026/27
- Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council, Fees and charges 26/27 (Red Hill)
- City of Stirling, Recycling Centre Balcatta tipping fees 2026/27
- Western Metropolitan Regional Council, West Metro Recycling Centre fees 2026/27
- City of Cockburn, Henderson commercial waste fees effective 1 July 2026 (PDF)
- WA Government, Waste levy rate schedule
Frequently asked questions
How much does the tip cost in Perth in 2026-27?
What are Tamala Park's fees?
How much is the Balcatta tip?
What does Henderson charge commercial customers?
Why are Perth tip fees cheaper than Melbourne or Sydney?
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