Understand your rates and waste charge

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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 2024-25 is $194,036,934.
  3. 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
    0.0023364, meaning that for every dollar of value of your property, you pay 0.23364 cents in rates.

For example:

If your house has a capital improved value (CIV) of $800,000, this year you will pay $1,869.12 in rates, excluding extra charges or arrears:

Capital improved value = $800,000

Residential rate in the dollar = 0.0023364

$800,000 x 0.0023364 = $1,869.12

Infographic: how rates are calculated

See more information on property valuations.

Rates capping

For the 2024-25 financial year, the total revenue generated from rates is capped at 2.75%.

To understand how to rate cap works please view this short video.

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 2025.

This includes your general rubbish, mixed recycling, food and garden organics (FOGO), and glass recycling bins as well as booked hard waste collections.

The capacity of your 4 bins are now listed individually on your rates notice (excludes shared bins that are listed as shared). 

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 2024-25 annual waste charge has increased on average by 7% for households using a standard service.

If you have a standard sized bin for each type of waste, this increase adds up to 52 cents per week, or $26.96 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 2024-25 financial year (valid until 30 June 2025) are:

General rubbish
  • 80 litre $148.07
  • 120 litre $333.15
  • 240 litre $518.23
  • Shared $96.24
Food and garden organics (FOGO)
  • 120 litre $100.49
  • 240 litre $100.49 (for existing services only during transition period)
  • 240 litre $226.90 (for new services)
  • Shared $65.32
Mixed recycling
  • 120 litre $43.13
  • 240 litre $57.50
  • 360 litre $129.38
  • Shared $37.38
Glass recycling
  • 120 litre $17.31
  • 240 litre $38.94
  • Shared $11.25

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 $323.37. This is calculated by adding the following costs together:

General rubbish 80 litre $148.07
+
Food and garden organics 120 litre $100.49
+
Mixed recycling 240 litre $57.50
+
Glass recycling 120 litre $17.31
=
a total waste charge of $323.37

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. Concessions are valid for up to 2 years only.

The concession charges for these bins are:

  • 160 litres - $203.15 (2 x 80 litres)
  • 200 litres - $222.10 (1 x 120 litre and 1 x 80 litre)
  • 240 litres - $259.12 (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 garbage bin/s. You can request an additional glass and recycling capacity as an additional 120 litre bin. In all cases there is a one off change over fee of $69.45. 

Changing the size of your bin will affect your waste charge, smaller bins cost less and larger bins (additional bins) cost more. 

The capacity of your bins is listed on your annual rates notice, if this is not displayed correctly you have 2 months after you receive your annual 2023/24 rate notice to let us know, if after review, this is not correct the charge will backdated to 1 July 2024. 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 bin 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 $132 for residential properties and $267 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.