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Plasterboard is costing you by the tonne.

In metropolitan Victoria, every tonne that goes to landfill attracts $177.19 in state levy in 2026–27, before the gate fee — and every other state charges its own.source Give plasterboard its own bin and it leaves your site as a recyclable instead.

t / yr

Not sure? Albury and Federation councils estimated about 1,000 t a year of builders’ offcuts alone.source

Where the landfill is

2026–27 state levy, per tonne.source

$/ t
t

Our estimate is 6–8 t.workings

Landfill costs avoided each year

$0

Plasterboard
0 t
State levy avoided
$0
Gate fees avoided
$0
Full bins
0

This is the landfill cost the plasterboard no longer attracts. It doesn’t include Plastercycle’s service charge — we quote that once we know your site.

Why it’s worth separating

It keeps a problem material out of the cell

Buried with food and garden waste, gypsum can break down into hydrogen sulphide, a toxic gas that smells of rotten eggs. In Europe, gypsum waste is only allowed into landfill cells that take no biodegradable waste.source

It’s one of the most recoverable things you take in

Around 94% of a sheet is gypsum, and recovered gypsum goes back into new plasterboard, cement and soil conditioner.source

It’s already arriving separately

Builders and renovators turn up with loads that are mostly board. A bin by the gate lets them drop it straight in.

What you need

  • A flat, firm spot for a 6.3 m × 2.45 m bin, with room in front for a hook-lift truck to reverse up.
  • Someone at the gate to point plasterboard to the bin and keep fibro out.
  • A call when it’s full. We collect it and take it away to be recycled.

Questions

Does the levy really apply to plasterboard?

Yes. Plasterboard sent to landfill is charged the waste levy by the tonne like any other waste. When a transfer station sends it on, it’s classed as industrial waste.

Where do the levy figures come from?

EPA Victoria sets the levy in fee units: 10.26 a tonne for metropolitan landfills and 9.03 for rural industrial waste in 2026–27. A fee unit is $17.27 this year. Sources.

We’re not in Victoria. Does this still work?

Every state charges for landfill, just at different rates. Put your own gate fee and levy into the “gate fee” box and set the tonnes — the maths is the same. Then tell us where you are.

What do residents need to do?

Bring plasterboard separately from the rest of their load, and keep fibro out. The printable bin sign and gate staff guide do most of the work.

Can we run a trial first?

Ask us. Tell us about your site and how much board you see, and we’ll work out a sensible starting point.

Put a bin where the plasterboard turns up.

Tell us about your transfer station, depot or site and roughly how much board comes through. We’ll come back to you with a plan and a quote.