Traditionally, Australian waste collectors charge their customers based on bin size and volume of waste, which is referred to as lift-based billing. Under this system, there is no price incentive to reduce waste because the fee per ‘bin lift’ is the same whether said bin is empty, half-full or full.
Alternatively, weight-based billing charges customers based on the weight of waste, which offers an incentive to modify waste generation and recycling behaviours. It allows customers more transparency in terms of their waste generation and management costs, with more accurate and substantial data that can inform business and sustainability reporting.
Charitable Recycling Australia is currently organising a weight-based billing tender in NSW, designed to save our member enterprises money and provide more billing transparency and accountability.
*Note: This summary paper was written prior to the rebrand of Charitable Recycling Australia. As a result, we are referred to as The National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations throughout.