UPCOMING CHANGE – CHEMICALLY TREATED TIMBER ACCEPTANCE + DISPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Can no longer be accepted as general waste for landfill in 2026/27.
What’s changing
The Shire must advise of an upcoming change to how chemically treated timber (including pallets, building materials and fence posts) is managed at the Bridgetown Waste Facility.
Following consultation with the WA Government regulator, changes are required to how chemically treated timber is managed at the facility to meet updated compliance requirements.
As a result, chemically treated timber can no longer be disposed of as general waste or landfilled on site. It must be separated from mixed loads and transported to an appropriately licensed external facility for disposal.
This applies to all loads (skip bins, trailers and trucks).
What you need to do
With the adoption of the 2026/27 Fees and Charges, and once the timber bins are on site:
- Treated timber needs to be separated from mixed loads before arriving at the site
- If not separated, place treated timber on top of the load so it can be easily identified and removed
- Treated timber must be placed in the designated bins by the driver/operator. Facility staff cannot assist with unloading or sorting this material.
- Where skip bins are used, users are encouraged to manage treated timber separately (e.g. stockpile on site or place it in a separate bin) to avoid contamination of mixed loads and minimise the risk of loads being rejected at the facility.
Important:
Loads containing treated timber that cannot be reasonably separated may not be able to be accepted.
Materials that already need to be separated from mixed loads
This is consistent with existing requirements to separate the following materials out:
- Asbestos
- Electrical waste (e-waste) and batteries
- Scrap metal, oil, tyres and mattresses
What stays the same
Untreated timber and furniture can continue to be accepted in mixed loads.
Pricing
Treated timber will be charged separately due to transport and disposal at an external licensed facility.
Final pricing will be confirmed after Council adopts the 2026/27 Fees and Charges.
Why this is changing
This change is required to meet regulatory compliance requirements for the facility.
Meeting these requirements allows the Shire to continue operating the waste facility and continue accepting untreated timber and furniture for landfill.
Next steps
The Shire will continue to accept treated timber locally under new handling and disposal requirements.
Timing will be confirmed following Council adoption and bin delivery.
Everyone is encouraged to plan ahead for these changes and ensure treated timber is not mixed into loads.
