Weight conversion factors
Since 1 September 2006, licensed waste facilities that receive more than 10,000 tonnes of waste per year have been required to install an approved weighbridge. Where a weighbridge is installed, records of all waste entering and leaving the facility should be based on the quantities (in tonnes) recorded by the weighbridge.
Where a facility does not have a weighbridge installed or waste arrives at a facility via a small vehicle such as a car or ute, the weight conversion factors set out below should be used to record the amounts of waste that enter or leave a facility.
Example:
On 5 December 2012, Landfill X receives a ute full of mixed waste. Landfill X uses the EPA's weight conversion factors to calculate the amount of waste received:
1 ute of waste (Vehicle type B) x 0.30 = 0.30 tonnes
In its records, Landfill X records that: on 5/12/12 it received 0.30 tonnes of mixed waste (material composition code: MIX) from vehicle registration number ZIG 433, which was placed in stockpile A.
Facilities should use only the following weight conversion factors to record and report on all unweighed waste that enters or leaves the facility.
Vehicle
type |
Description |
Weight factor |
Small vehicle |
All mixed waste |
| A |
Car / station wagon |
0.06 |
| B |
Van / ute / trailer |
0.30 |
Facilities receiving less than 10,000 tonnes of waste per year and that do not have a weighbridge should use only the following weight conversion factors to record and report on all unweighed waste that enters or leaves the facility.
Vehicle
type |
Description |
Weight factor |
Open truck |
Municipal, commercial & industrial waste |
Construction & demolition waste |
Virgin excavated natural materials |
| C |
Single rear axle with two rear wheels or four small rear wheels |
0.62 |
0.98 |
2.47 |
| D |
Single rear axle with four normal size wheels |
1.16 |
2.76 |
5.58 |
| E |
Tandem rear axle (bogie drive) |
3.74 |
7.14 |
10.97 |
| F |
Twin steer with twin rear axles |
5.57 |
7.61 |
10.97 |
| G |
Tipping semi-trailer |
5.79 |
15.00 |
15.00 |
Vehicle
type |
Description |
Weight factor |
Enclosed truck and compactor |
All mixed waste |
| H |
Single steer with single rear axle |
2.72 |
| I |
Single steer with tandem rear axle |
6.38 |
| J |
Twin steer with tandem rear axle |
7.96 |
| K |
Waste transfer truck |
19.89 |
Page last updated: 12 July 2012
