Understand your rates and waste charge
On this page:
How your rates are calculated
We assess community needs and the total cost of services and infrastructure when deciding how much money is needed from rates each year.
- We calculate the total value of all properties in Merri-bek. We use the Capital Improved Value (CIV) as a valuation base to calculate rates.
- We then work out the portion of the cost of services that Council provides to the community that can be funded by rates under rate capping. The amount for 2023-24 is $160,289,613.
- We divide this cost by the total value of properties, giving us the rate in the dollar. This year, the rate in the dollar is
0.0022656, meaning that for every dollar of value of your property, you pay 0.0022656 cents in rates.
For example:
If your house has a capital improved value (CIV) of $800,000, this year you will pay $1,812.48 in rates, excluding extra charges or arrears:
Capital improved value = $800,000
Residential rate in the dollar = 0.0022656
$800,000 x 0.0022656 = $1,812.48
Infographic: how rates are calculated
See more information on property valuations.
Rates capping
For the 2023-24 financial year, the total revenue generated from rates is capped at 3.5%.
For more information on rate capping, please visit the Municipal Association of Victoria.
Waste charges
What is the waste charge?
The annual waste charge is included on your rates notice and appears as a separate charge. This charge recovers the full cost of delivering the kerbside waste collection service until 30 June 2024.
This includes your general rubbish, mixed recycling, food and garden organics (FOGO), and glass recycling bins as well as booked hard waste collections.
There is no longer a single line charge on your rates notice. Your 4 bins are now listed individually.
Kerbside waste services and booked hard waste collections are available if you or your landlord pay the waste charge at your property. If you're not sure, call us on 03 9240 1111to find out.
How much is the waste charge?
The 2023-24 annual waste charge has increased on average by 7.5% for households using a standard service.
If you have a standard sized bin for each type of waste, this increase adds up to 41 cents per week, or $21.19 for the year. This covers the increased waste processing fees and State Government waste levy.
The waste levy increases every year and is charged per tonne of waste sent to landfill. Since all of our general rubbish is sent to landfill, the general rubbish service is the most expensive to deliver.
How is the waste charge calculated?
Your waste charge is based on the capacity, or size, of the bin/s for each type of waste at the property.
The waste charges for the 2023-24 financial year (valid until 30 June 2024) are:
General rubbish
- 80 litre $136.27
- 120 litre $306.62
- 240 litre $476.96
- Shared $88.58
Food and garden organics (FOGO)
- 120 litre $91.36
- 240 litre $91.36 (for existing services only during transition period)
- 240 litre $205.55 (for new services)
- Shared $59.38
Mixed recycling
- 120 litre $40.54
- 240 litre $54.05
- 360 litre $121.62
- Shared $35.14
Glass recycling
- 120 litre $14.73
- 240 litre $33.15
- Shared $9.58
To encourage reduced waste to landfill, the charge per litre for the 80 litre general rubbish bin remains much lower than larger bins (that are not shared).
Calculation of waste charge for a standard service
If you have standard sized bins for each type of waste, your total waste charge will be $296.41. This is calculated by adding the following costs together:
General rubbish 80 litre $136.27
+
Food and garden organics 120 litre $91.36
+
Mixed recycling 240 litre $54.05
+
Glass recycling 120 litre $14.73
=
a total waste charge of $296.41
Shared bin/s
Shared 120 litre and 240 litre bins relate to properties where more than one household shares a bin. If you live in a multi-unit dwelling with four or more units and common land you can request to share bins. The charge for shared bin/s is lower than the charge for individual bins, it applies per household not per bin.
Residents can request additional shared bin capacity for recycling (in a 240 litre bin), food and garden organics (in either a 120 litre or a 240 litre bin) or glass recycling (in a 120 litre bin).
Concession Waste Charges
If you have a health condition that requires additional waste capacity or a large family (6 or more children), you can apply for an additional general rubbish bin or change to the size of your bin.
The concession charges for these bins are:
- 160 litres - $187.38 (2 x 80 litres)
- 200 litres - $204.41 (1 x 120 litre and 1 x 80 litre)
- 240 litres - $238.48 (2 x 120 litres or 1 x 240 litres)
How do I change the size of my bin?
You can request to change the size of your FOGO, mixed recycling or glass recycling bin if the standard bin size is not suitable for your household. There will be no changeover fee for these waste types for your first bin size change, however there will be a charge for any subsequent changes in the financial year.
Changing the size of your bin will affect your waste charge, smaller bins cost less and larger bins cost more.
You have 2 months after you receive your annual 2023/24 rate notice to change your bin size and have the charge backdated to 1 July 2023. Following this time the charge for your bin will be pro-rata from the date the change over occurs.
A bin changeover fee of $69.45 will apply for any changes to the size of general rubbish bins. The fee covers the cost of replacing and delivering the bin to you.
Apply and pay for a general rubbish bin size changeover online
For more information call us on 03 9240 1111.
Fire services levy
Your rates include the Victorian Government’s Fire Services Property Levy. All revenue collected goes directly to the State Government to help support Victoria’s fire services.
Calculate your Fire Services Property Levy
Visit the State Government website to calculate your Fire Services Property Levy.
The Fire Services Property Levy includes a fixed component of $125 for residential properties and $254 for non-residential properties, plus a variable component calculated as a percentage of your capital improved value (CIV).
Pension concession rebates
Eligible pensioners are entitled to a $50 Fire Services Property Levy rebate for their principal place of residence.
Pensioners who currently receive a rates concession rebate automatically receive the $50 concession on the Fire Services Property Levy.
For more information call the Victorian Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521.
Have a question about rates?
If you have a question about rates, please fill out the form below we will get back to you within 10 business days. Please provide as much detail as you can.