Lynton green waste drop-off fee change — Green Waste from paid to free - Timeline report 2015 - August 2026

Contents

• Executive summary
• Timeline
• 14 July 2015 — Existing service level documented — Council's service level documentation described the Lynton Transfer Station operation…
• 12 April 2016 — Draft Waste Management Strategy — A draft Waste Management Strategy was presented to Council, formalising existing waste…
• 14 February 2017 — Councillor motion for additional free days — Cr K Hockley gave notice of a motion, "Additional Free Green Waste Days," proposing…
• 25 July 2017 — Officer report and resolution on free green waste days — An officer report, "Free Green Waste Days," was presented in response to Council's…
• 15 May 2018 — Audit Committee review of Lynton operations — The Audit Committee was advised that a review of "Lynton Transfer Station Green Waste…
• July 2025 — Kerbside Waste Policy update briefing — A briefing on a Waste Policy Update outlined the current Kerbside Waste Policy…
• 7 April 2026 — Budget consultation options reference service review — In considering options for consulting the community on the Draft 2026/27 Annual…
• 16 June 2026 — Review of the Green Organics Drop-off Service at Lynton presented and decided — An officer report, "Review of the Green Organics Drop-off Service at Lynton," was…
• July 2026 — Ward reporting on green waste service expectations — In a Mitcham Community News ward report, Cr Corin McCarthy (The Park Ward) stated an…
• August 2026 — Adoption and public communication of the change — In the August 2026 Mitcham Community News presenting the City of Mitcham Annual…
• Key findings
• Open questions

Executive summary

The Lynton Green Organics Drop-off Facility has operated since 2001 as a mixed fee/free service, charging on regular Saturday opening days while offering a bounded number of free days each year to support bushfire preparedness [6]. Over the following decade the number of free days fluctuated with budget pressure, peaking at 18 in 2012 and falling to 12 in 2015–2016 [6]. Council periodically reviewed and adjusted the free-day allocation (notably in 2017), examined operational efficiency at the facility (2018), and in 2025–2026 undertook a further review that led, at its 16 June 2026 meeting, to a decision to make the service entirely free — 22 free drop-off days per year with paid days ceasing — alongside an online booking system and capacity limits [13][18]. This change was subsequently referenced in the Council's 2026/27 budget consultation and adoption process and reported to the community as an outcome of that year's Annual Business Plan [10][11][15].

The record shows the change progressing through: an initial 2015 service description of a fee-for-service model with limited free days [1]; a 2016 draft Waste Management Strategy identifying the facility for review [2]; a 2017 councillor motion and subsequent officer report and resolution increasing free days to ten (plus January/February days) [3][4][5][6][7]; an internal 2018 operational efficiency review [8]; a 2025 Kerbside Waste Policy update process running in parallel [9]; a 2026 budget-consultation reference to a service review recommending increased free days and online booking [10][11]; and the culminating June 2026 decision to cease paid days and move to a fully free, booked service [12][13][18], reported to residents through council communications by August 2026 [15][17][19].

Timeline

14 July 2015 — Existing service level documented

Council's service level documentation described the Lynton Transfer Station operation as providing "a fee for service facility for the collection of green waste open first, third and fifth Saturday of the month" together with "an appropriate number of free green waste drop-off days in conjunction with the commencement of the bushfire season" [1].

12 April 2016 — Draft Waste Management Strategy

A draft Waste Management Strategy was presented to Council, formalising existing waste services and programs, including the "Lynton Green Organics Drop-off Facility" as one of the services covered [2]. The strategy set five-year key actions of reducing waste to landfill, increasing resource recovery, increasing community knowledge, and maintaining cost-efficient waste and recycling services, in the context of the State Government's 70% landfill-diversion target against Mitcham's then 56.3% diversion rate [2].

14 February 2017 — Councillor motion for additional free days

Cr K Hockley gave notice of a motion, "Additional Free Green Waste Days," proposing that Council arrange two additional free green waste days at Lynton to help residents remove green material generated by the Christmas storm and prepare for the fire danger season, to be held before 31 March 2017, with $10,000 once-off operating expenditure to be included at Budget Review 2 [3].

25 July 2017 — Officer report and resolution on free green waste days

An officer report, "Free Green Waste Days," was presented in response to Council's resolution from the 28 February 2017 meeting concerning free days at the Lynton facility [4][5]. The accompanying discussion set out the service's history since 2001, noting free days had peaked at 18 in 2012 and fallen to 12 in 2015 and 2016, that a single free day cost approximately $6,000 (three staff, plant, equipment and disposal), and that 2256 vehicles used the free days held in November–December 2016, with Belair, Blackwood and Hawthorndene the most-represented suburbs and Leawood Gardens, Springfield and Urrbrae the least [6]. A comparison table showed neighbouring Adelaide Hills Council running a smaller number of free days supplemented by a user-pays system [6].

Council resolved, on a substantive motion moved by Cr Bange and seconded by Cr Taeuber, to: note the report; provide ten (10) free green waste days to City of Mitcham residents in conjunction with the beginning of the Fire Danger Season; provide one further free day in January and one in February to assist residents maintaining their property during the Fire Danger Season; and ensure all free days were scheduled in advance for advertising purposes. The motion was carried [7]. Progress notes recorded the item as completed, with the website updated and the ten Fire-Danger-Season days plus the January/February days to be booked and advertised together [7].

15 May 2018 — Audit Committee review of Lynton operations

The Audit Committee was advised that a review of "Lynton Transfer Station Green Waste Management" had commenced, initially focused on improving the efficiency of resident drop-off, staff bin clearing/loading, bin compaction/use, and public and staff safety at the facility [8]. Further scope, yet to be finalised, was expected to cover provision of electronic payment at the facility and an improved process for residents accessing the drop-off service to enhance the offering and identify potential cost efficiencies [8].

July 2025 — Kerbside Waste Policy update briefing

A briefing on a Waste Policy Update outlined the current Kerbside Waste Policy (covering domestic waste, recyclables and FOGO collection) and set out a timeline for review: drafting the policy in July, a Council report to endorse an engagement plan, community engagement through August–September, finalising the policy, and a further Council report to endorse the policy toward the end of the year [9].

7 April 2026 — Budget consultation options reference service review

In considering options for consulting the community on the Draft 2026/27 Annual Business Plan, Budget and Long-Term Financial Plan, Council's agenda listed among committed new services for 2025/26 a "Kerbside Waste Collection Services Policy Endorsement and Circular" item [10]. Separately, decision item 3 proposed that Council add "service level changes arising from the Service Review into Council's Green Organics Drop-off Service at Lynton, including increased free green waste drop-off days and an online booking system to reduce waiting times" to the list of new services and projects considered but not included in the draft budget, as an indication of support for further consideration [10]. The minutes record an amendment moved by Cr Wells to the base budget option, but retained the same wording for the green waste drop-off service item — adding it to the list of new services considered but not included, as an indication of support for further consideration [11].

16 June 2026 — Review of the Green Organics Drop-off Service at Lynton presented and decided

An officer report, "Review of the Green Organics Drop-off Service at Lynton," was presented to Council, its purpose being to present a completed review of usage patterns and operational performance and to provide options for future delivery of the service, noting that only Council held delegation for the decision [12]. The report recorded that an information session had been held on 31 March 2026 to give Council Members an overview of the service review, with presentation slides provided as a supporting document [12].

Council resolved, on a motion moved by Cr Morrison and seconded by Cr McCarthy, which was carried, to:

• note the outcomes of the Green Organics Drop-off Service Review;
• endorse changes to the service level at the Lynton facility to provide 22 free drop-off days per annum and cease operating paid days as part of the service;
• schedule 16 of the 22 free days to support bushfire preparation, with the remaining 6 free days scheduled throughout the rest of the year at staff's delegated discretion;
• implement operational changes including online booking and capacity limitations, aimed at improving efficiency, effectiveness and resident experience;
• note that this represents an increase in service level from 12 to 22 free days;
• note that the net impact of the enhancements and service level change is cost neutral in terms of budget expenditure; and
• review the service after 12 months to assess its effectiveness [13][18].

As at the time of reporting, this resolution was recorded as outstanding, with Administration developing media publicity material, a booking platform, and updates to the Green Organics webpage and 2026/27 open day calendar [18].

July 2026 — Ward reporting on green waste service expectations

In a Mitcham Community News ward report, Cr Corin McCarthy (The Park Ward) stated an expectation of an increase in free drop-off days at Lynton, particularly during late spring and autumn bushfire preparation periods, and noted that in April 2026 he had unsuccessfully sought to halve the annual cost of a second green bin from $112 to $56, stating he would continue advocating for cost-effective access to a second green bin [19].

August 2026 — Adoption and public communication of the change

In the August 2026 Mitcham Community News presenting the City of Mitcham Annual Business Plan 2026/2027, the Mayor stated that "by changing the way we manage free green waste drop-off days residents will now be able to access additional free days throughout the year which will help with bushfire preparedness," within a budget featuring an average rate increase of 6.38% [15].

The council's "Garden waste drop-off facility" webpage described the resulting arrangement: from September, City of Mitcham residents would be able to dispose of excess garden organic waste free of charge at the Lynton facility, with all council-operated drop-off days free and requiring an online booking; facility hours were listed as 9am–3pm (March to September) and 8am–2pm (October to February); the service remained restricted to residents maintaining their own properties (excluding commercial operators and trucks); and most free days were to be scheduled during bushfire preparation season with the remaining six through the rest of the year [17]. The council's general bins webpage continued to direct residents with excess garden material to the Lynton facility [14], and separate council guidance confirmed the facility would remain open on days of high fire risk unless conditions became unsafe, closing once a fire behaviour index of 75 or above was declared [20]. Council's disaster-risk-reduction material listed "Free green waste drop-offs for community" among activities contributing to disaster risk reduction [16].

Key findings

• The Lynton Green Organics Drop-off Facility operated on a fee-for-service basis on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of each month, supplemented by free days timed to the Fire Danger Season, from at least 2015 and with this model tracing back to the facility's 2001 origin [1][6].
• The number of free days fluctuated over time — from six in 2002 to a peak of 18 in 2012, down to 12 in 2015–2016 — reportedly reflecting the cost of operating each free day (about $6,000) against available budget [6].
• Council increased the free-day allocation in 2017, resolving to provide ten Fire-Danger-Season free days plus one each in January and February, following a councillor motion prompted by post-storm green waste volumes [3][6][7].
• An internal operational review of the Lynton facility, focused on efficiency, bin handling and safety (and potentially electronic payment), was under way by May 2018 [8].
• A further service review, informed by a Council information session on 31 March 2026, led Council on 16 June 2026 to resolve to cease paid drop-off days entirely and move to 22 free days per year, with online booking and capacity limits, describing the change as cost neutral relative to the prior arrangement [12][13][18].
• The decision followed an April 2026 budget-consultation step in which the prospective service-level change (more free days, online booking) was flagged as a service under consideration but not yet funded in the draft 2026/27 budget [10][11].
• The change was publicly communicated in the council's August 2026 Annual Business Plan materials and community news, and implementation (free days from September, online booking, revised hours) was described on the council's website [15][17].
• A councillor's separate proposal in April 2026 to halve the fee for a second green bin (from $112 to $56 per year) was reported as unsuccessful [19].

Open questions

• The record does not show the detailed findings or data of the 2025–2026 "Service Review" of the Green Organics Drop-off Service beyond the June 2026 report's purpose statement and the resolution itself; the full review document and its usage-pattern analysis are not included in the material provided [12][13].
• The material does not include the presentation slides from the 31 March 2026 information session, referenced as a supporting document to the June 2026 report [12].
• It is unclear from the record whether or how the 2018 Audit Committee review of Lynton operations (electronic payment, process improvements) fed into the 2025–2026 service review or the eventual 2026 decision, as no document bridges the two [8][12].
• The relationship between the 2025 Kerbside Waste Policy update process (covering domestic bins generally) and the separate Lynton Green Organics Drop-off Service review is not clarified in the sources; both appear in the 2025–2026 period but are not explicitly linked in any provided document [9][12].
• The outcome of Cr McCarthy's April 2026 proposal to halve second-green-bin fees is reported only in a ward newsletter as "unsuccessful," with no council agenda, minutes or vote record provided [19].
• As at the source material's most recent entries (August 2026), the June 2026 resolution was still recorded as "outstanding," with implementation (publicity, booking platform, webpage updates) in progress; the record does not show a completion date or confirmation that the new booking system was operational [18][17].
• No source in the record documents a formal 12-month review of the new service (due per resolution point 7), as this would fall after the covered period [13].

Regenerated 4 August 2026 at 06:43 pm ACST — re-run with the current model from a report originally created 4 August 2026 at 05:57 pm ACST.