Frequently Asked Questions

The Mobile Garbage Bin collection service is charged annually and listed on each property owners Rates notice within the defined collection areas. The current annual fee is $300.00.

If you do not have a Council's Mobile Garbage Bin collection service, then you are not charged the annual fee for this service. 

Council rates are a form of property taxation. Rates are not a fee for service but are a tax. Property values play an important part in determining how much each property owner pays. 

Council rates are used to provide various essential services to households and businesses within the district. Some of which are required by State laws and others are provided based on needs and preferences of communities such as:

• Roads
• Libraries 
• Planning, building controls and regulatory services
• Sporting and recreation facilities 
• Parks, gardens, playgrounds and public toilets 
• Street lighting 
• Food safety inspections
• Environment protections, public nuisance and noise and animal management

If your bin is damaged, lost and/or stolen, a replacement bin may be issued at the owners expense. A MGB Replacement Bin Request Form must be completed and returned to Council via:

• Email: info@dcgrant.sa.gov.au
• Post: PO Box 72, Mount Gambier SA 5290
• In person: 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier

Cost: $75 per replacement bin

For any missed bins, please contact Cleanaway on (08) 8427 8204.

A new Waste Transfer Station Voucher system was implemented by Council in 2020 following a Council resolution for the Waste Transfer Stations to become cashless. 

There were a number of issues identified by issuing paper based vouchers with rates notices. These included:

• Duplication: some people were photocopying the paper vouchers and handing them out which increased Council's costs and gave non-residents free access to the Waste Transfer Stations. 
• Waste: Vouchers were being issued but not used, therefore Council was paying for unused services. 

With the new 6 visit vouchers, only the times you visit are costed. There is no duplication as each voucher is linked to your rates assessment number. 

Waste Transfer Station Vouchers may be collected or requested to be mailed by:

• Phone: Principal Office on (08) 8721 0444
• Email: info@dcgrant.sa.gov.au
• In person:
  • Principal Office: 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier
  • Port MacDonnell Community Complex: 5-7 Charles Street, Port MacDonnell

More information about the voucher system can be found on Council's website at www.dcgrant.sa.gov.au. 

Port MacDonnell: 32 Surfers Way, Port MacDonnell 

Tarpeena: 248 Quarry Road, Tarpeena

Carpenter Rocks: 2546 Carpenter Rocks Road, Carpenter Rocks

Donovans: 184 Dry Creek Road, Donovans

Opening times are detailed on Council's website at www.dcgrant.sa.gov.au.

Please Note: 

• All Waste Transfer Stations are cashless 
• Residents must have with them or purchase a voucher from Council 
• Only District Council of Grant property owners are able to utilise these Waste Transfer Stations

Waste Transfer Station Vouchers are issued to the owner of a property in the District Council of Grant. Tenants are encouraged to request the voucher through the owner or their property manager. 

Council will not issue tenants with a voucher without written permission from the property owner. 

Council encourages community members using the Waste Transfer Stations to sort waste prior to drop off. This allows the load to be assessed appropriately and makes unloading easier. 

Some items must be deconstructed to be accepted (eg. mattresses). Find out more on Council's website at www.dcgrant.sa.gov.au. 

Council has commenced planning for a Food Organics Green Organics (FOGO) trial as detailed within the 2024-2025 Annual Business Plan and Budget. This trial will help inform any Council decision on future FOGO roll outs prior to the 2025-2026 Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget process. 

Further details regarding this trial and associated consultation will be released in the coming months.

Council does not accept building rubble at any Waste Transfer Stations. 

It is recommended that building rubble be disposed of at Sandyridge, a privately ran service located at Compton. More information about this disposal site can be found on their website at www.sandy-ridge.com.

The ChemClear program offers a solution to responsibly dispose of unwanted agricultural and veterinary chemicals. There are two groups of chemicals:

• Group 1 chemicals are free of charge and are a part of the drumMUSTER program; and
• Group 2 chemicals incur a fee for collection, which is all other AgVet chemicals.

Registrations are essential for any upcoming ChemClear collection. Register by:

• Completing the Inventory of Unwanted Chemicals Registration Form and return to ChemClear via fax (03 9371 8501) or email (info@chemclear.org.au)
• Completing the online registration via the ChemClear website
• Calling ChemClear on 1800 008 182

Read this Fact Sheet and contact a licensed asbestos removalist.  

Hard waste can be taken to Council Waste Transfer Stations. Big items of furniture (e.g. couches) can only be disposed of at the Port MacDonnell and Tarpeena Waste Transfer Stations.