Reducing business waste
Brisbane City Council can help your business reduce waste to landfill, increase resource recovery and recycling, and reduce waste management costs by selling or trading waste materials.
ASPIRE online marketplace
ASPIRE - the Advisory System for Process Innovation and Resource Exchange - is an online marketplace for Brisbane businesses to sell, exchange and trade unwanted waste materials. It can help reduce your business waste disposal costs, create new supply chains and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill from your business.
ASPIRE has helped hundreds of businesses unlock cost savings, resolve issues around waste, reuse materials destined for landfill and reduce their carbon emissions.
Materials that can be traded
Materials that can be traded via ASPIRE include:
- chemicals
- e-waste
- furniture
- glass
- liquids
- metals
- organic material
- paper and cardboard
- plastics
- textiles
- wood/timber.
Eligibility to use ASPIRE
Council has invested in a licence for Brisbane's local businesses to have free access to the circular economy, business-to-business ASPIRE platform.
All businesses in the Brisbane local government area with up to 100 employees are eligible to register with ASPIRE. Larger business are eligible for a discount.
ASPIRE can also be used by:
- early learning centres and schools with an ABN
- community groups with an ABN
- social enterprises.
Access ASPIRE
Developed by CSIRO and Data 61, ASPIRE is a website and app that connects potential matches for your business waste based on your profile.
Brisbane-based businesses can dispose of, or source, a material locally and trading opportunities are also available with other businesses across South East Queensland and beyond.
More information
For more information about business recycling, including ASPIRE, email a Council Waste Smart Community Officer.
Recycling bins for businesses
Recycling at work is just as important as recycling at home. Your efforts help recover valuable resources and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Understanding and managing waste management fees is important as State Government landfill levies rise and can lead to cost savings.
Recycling for businesses is easy with Council's user-pays business recycling service. This service provides a:
- weekly or fortnightly wheelie bin recycling collection; or
- weekly bulk bin recycling collection.
The business recycling service is offered on a user-pays basis with bin sizes ranging from 240-340 litre wheelie bins and 660 litre to 4.5 cubic metre bulk bins.
Apply for the user-pays business recycling service
The business recycling service is voluntary and businesses need to apply to start a collection service.
Apply online for the business recycling service
Once you've applied, a Council officer will assess your application and phone you to discuss the right bin to suit your business needs. An onsite consultation with a Council officer may be required before a new service can be approved.
Cost of service
There is no start-up fee to join the business recycling service. The weekly fee entitles you to one collection per week for each bin. Invoices are sent on a quarterly basis. Charges cannot be added to the rate account for your business property.
| Types of recycling bins | Service fees inclusive of GST |
|---|---|
| 240 litre | $7.20 per service |
| 340 litre | $10.00 per service |
| Bulk bins 660 litres to 4.5 cubic metres | $22.40 per cubic metre per service |
Wheelie bins can be serviced weekly or fortnightly. Bulk bins must be serviced a minimum of once per week.
You must commit to the service for a minimum of 12 months, after which time you may cancel the service.
Using your business recycling bin
Using your business recycling bin is easy and just like recycling at home. Use it to recycle paper, cardboard, glass, metal and plastic.
Find out more about what can be recycled on our bin items page.
Business recycling support
Do you want assistance with your business recycling solutions?
Council's business recycling support includes:
- free expert business recycling advice with an onsite waste assessment
- access to free recycling resources including signs, bin posters, action plan, how-to guide and fact sheets
- access to ASPIRE - a waste trading website for Brisbane businesses
- education sessions or toolbox talks for your staff
- assistance conducting a waste audit with a focus on identifying contamination in your workplace bins.