At a glance
- Who it’s for
- Gold Coast residents taking household rubbish, recycling or garden waste to a City tip
- Gate fee
- $5 from 1 July 2026 for any load with general (landfill) or construction and demolition waste; recycling and green waste only is free
- Most centres
- Open every day, 7am to 4:50pm; closed Christmas Day and Good Friday
- Busiest time
- 10am to 2pm, weekends and public holidays
- Payment
- EFTPOS only (tap and go); no cash or cheques
- What to do now
- Sort the load, bring proof of a Gold Coast address, and check the City’s map for your centre’s hours
- Last checked
- 10 November 2026, against the City of Gold Coast’s waste and recycling centre pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Where green waste can go while the Merrimac drop-and-go is closed beyond the four centres the City lists; the new Merrimac pad is expected in March 2027
Since 1 July 2026 the City of Gold Coast charges a $5 gate fee at its waste and recycling centres for any load that includes general (landfill) or construction and demolition waste, while a load of only recycling or only green waste is still free. Most of the 11 centres are open every day from 7am to 4:50pm and close only on Christmas Day and Good Friday, but a few have shorter hours and one has closed for good.
This guide is built from the City’s waste and recycling centres pages as of 10 November 2026. Opening hours and fees can change, and the City says to check its map for current hours before you go. Prices are GST inclusive and as of November 2026.
How much is the gate fee, and when is it free?
The $5 gate fee applies to a residential load with landfill waste (general rubbish) or construction and demolition waste, up to 2.1 metres long, 1.5 metres wide and 60 centimetres high. Recycling and green organics are free to drop off when they:
- are separated into clean, dedicated loads;
- come from a Gold Coast residential property, with proof of residency;
- are not from business or commercial activity;
- arrive in an eligible vehicle: a sedan, van, ute or small trailer, not a truck;
- are within the residential load size limits; and
- contain only materials accepted for recycling or composting.
The City says there is no discount on the gate fee. It adds that 46 per cent of residents visit a centre once a year and about 30 per cent do not use the service at all. Scrap metal is free of charge. Local not-for-profit groups can apply in writing for fee concessions for clean-ups.
What are the opening hours of each centre?
| Site | Address | Hours listed by the City |
|---|---|---|
| Helensvale Waste and Recycling Centre | 70 Helensvale Road, Helensvale | Every day, 7am to 4:50pm |
| Pimpama Recycling Centre | 232 Old Pacific Highway, Pimpama | Every day, 7am to 4:50pm |
| Jacobs Well Waste and Recycling Centre | 250 Skopps Road, Jacobs Well | Every day, 7am to 4:50pm |
| Merrimac Waste and Recycling Centre | Boowaggan Road, Merrimac | Every day, 7am to 4:50pm (green organics drop-and-go closed, see below) |
| Molendinar Waste and Recycling Centre | Corner of Jacobs Road and Herbertson Drive, Molendinar | Every day, 6:30am to 4:15pm |
| Reedy Creek Waste and Recycling Centre | 61 Hutchinson Street, Burleigh Heads | Every day, 7am to 4:50pm |
| Reedy Creek Recycle Market | 61 Hutchinson Street, Burleigh Heads | Wednesday to Sunday, 8am to 4pm; closed on public holidays |
| Currumbin Valley Waste and Recycling Centre | 1174 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Valley | Friday to Monday, 7am to 4:50pm |
| Springbrook Waste and Recycling Centre | 4 Carricks Road, Springbrook | The City lists every day, with a note that from 1 July 2026 the hours change to Friday to Monday, 7am to 4:50pm |
| Stapylton Recycling and Landfill Centre | Rossmanns Road, Stapylton | Every day, 7am to 4:45pm |
| Reedy Creek Commercial Landfill | Adjacent to 82 Hutchinson Street, Burleigh Heads | Monday to Friday, 7am to 4:45pm; Saturday, 7am to 12:45pm; closed Sundays and public holidays |
| Currigee Waste and Recycling Centre | Currigee Road, South Stradbroke Island | Every day, 6am to 6pm |
| Tipplers Waste and Recycling Centre | Lake Clayton Road, South Stradbroke Island | Every day, 6am to 6pm |
The City says all of these sites close on Good Friday and Christmas Day, except where the table gives other closures. It says the centres are open on other public holidays. The Numinbah Valley Waste and Recycling Centre at 2069 Nerang-Murwillumbah Road is no longer operational from 1 July 2026.
When is the tip busiest?
The City says peak demand is 10am to 2pm, and on weekends and public holidays. To avoid queues, visit outside those times and sort your load before you arrive.
What happens when I arrive?
- Stop at the gate so staff can check your load. At some centres you may be directed over a weighbridge.
- Show proof of residency if asked: a driver licence with a Gold Coast address, a rates notice or utility bill, or a rental agreement or receipt.
- Pay the $5 gate fee if your load has any general (landfill) waste. EFTPOS only; tap and go works at all sites.
- Follow staff directions to the right area: general waste, Recycle Street, green organics drop and go, or commercial waste.
The City says it checks loads using trained staff, cameras and licence plate recognition, and that breaching the entry conditions may lead to fines or access restrictions. It also says to cover and secure your load with a net, rope or tie-downs, because penalties may apply for unsecured loads.
How big a load can I bring?
Residential load limits apply at Currumbin Valley, Helensvale, Jacobs Well, Merrimac, Pimpama (green organics only) and Springbrook.
| Load | Maximum size |
|---|---|
| Mixed landfill waste | 2.1 metres long, 1.5 metres wide, 60 centimetres high |
| Green organics (grass, leaves, garden trimmings) | 2.1 metres long, 1.5 metres wide, 1 metre high |
Larger loads are accepted at Reedy Creek, Molendinar and Stapylton, where standard fees apply. Waste from business or commercial activity, including work on an investment property, must go to Reedy Creek or Stapylton, where commercial fees apply.
Where can I take garden waste while Merrimac is closed?
The City says the green organics drop and go at Merrimac is temporarily closed to make way for a sewerage infrastructure upgrade, and the City’s drop and go page gives the closure date as 7 September 2026. A new green organics pad is being built at Merrimac and is expected to open in March 2027. The City’s drop and go page lists four centres that accept green organics and are open seven days, closing only on Good Friday and Christmas Day: Pimpama, Molendinar, Reedy Creek and Stapylton.
Accepted green organics are flowers, garden prunings, grass clippings, leaves, tree branches and trunks, and weeds. The City does not accept rocks, soil or potting mix, building or renovation waste, treated timber, green waste in a bag, food, manure, plant pots, or commercial quantities.
What is Recycle Street, and what can I drop there?
Recycle Street is a self-service area with a colour-coded shopfront for each material. Drive in and drop recyclables there first, then move on to any other waste. The City lists Recycle Street at five sites: Helensvale, Merrimac, Molendinar, Pimpama and Reedy Creek.
| Bin | Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries (purple) | Car, motorbike and boat batteries | Household batteries; solar storage batteries |
| Gas bottles (green) | Domestic bottles up to 9 kg | Industrial gas bottles |
| Motor oil (orange) | Household motor oil, up to 20 litres | |
| Hazardous (black) | Household chemicals and fuel, up to 20 litres, in secure containers | Asbestos, explosives and other hazardous materials |
| Paint (pink) | Interior, exterior and floor paint, up to 20 litres | Aerosol paints, primers, stains, automotive paint, thinners |
| E-waste (blue) | Televisions, computers, phones, printers, monitors, game consoles and similar | |
| White goods (white) | Fridges, freezers, ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, air conditioners | |
| Cardboard and paper (dark blue) | Cardboard and paper | |
| Mixed recyclables (yellow) | Paper, cardboard, rigid plastic containers, glass bottles and jars, metal cans, empty aerosols | Bin liners, food scraps, garden organics, soft plastics, paper plates and compostable packaging, polystyrene, takeaway coffee cups |
The City’s lists are not fully consistent, for example batteries appear under both the battery bin and the e-waste list, so check the sign at the bin if you are unsure. The City’s Recycle Right search covers more than 40,000 items.
What do other loads cost?
Standard landfill fees are charged per tonne, include the Queensland Government’s waste disposal levy and are GST inclusive. These are the City’s rates for loads that are not covered by the free or $5 residential rules:
| Load | Inside City limits | Outside City limits |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed waste | $355 per tonne; $41 minimum for up to 150 kg | $439.50 per tonne |
| Green waste | $124.50 per tonne; $20 minimum for up to 160 kg | $291 per tonne |
| Concrete | $71 per tonne; $18 minimum for up to 250 kg | $291 per tonne |
| Sand, soil and rock | $143 per tonne; $21 minimum for up to 150 kg | Not listed |
| Asbestos | $346 per tonne; $83 minimum for up to 240 kg | $494 per tonne; $129 minimum for up to 260 kg |
Tyres are charged each, with up to five accepted per visit from both commercial and domestic customers: motorcycle $3.80, passenger car $7.50, passenger car with rim $14.40, light truck or 4×4 $11.30 and truck tyre $26. A light truck tyre with rim costs $22. Asbestos must be wetted, wrapped in plastic and placed on the ground with bundles intact. The City also lists a $54 weighing service for registration purposes.
What if the load is too big or bulky for the car?
The City runs an on-demand bulky kerbside service called FLEXiSKiP: a skip of three cubic metres with a one tonne capacity, delivered to your kerb. Eligible households can apply for one service each financial year at a $50 fee (including GST). Collection must be booked within 30 days of delivery. You are not eligible if you live in a complex with more than 10 units or lots, a high-rise or unit complex with an existing bulk bin service, rural areas without a City waste collection service, island communities, or the Hope Island and Sanctuary Cove resort complexes. The City’s page says to call 07 5619 5221, Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm.
Sources
- City of Gold Coast — Waste and recycling centres (checked 10 November 2026)
- City of Gold Coast — Waste and recycling centres map (opening hours)
- City of Gold Coast — Waste disposal fees
- City of Gold Coast — Recycle Street
- City of Gold Coast — Green organics drop and go
- City of Gold Coast — On-demand bulky kerbside collection
Featured image: Discovery Park, Helensvale (photo: Shiftchange / CC0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Gold Coast. Fees and opening hours can change; check the City’s waste and recycling centres map before you go.