The Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) has warned the State Government’s proposed waste levy could lead to illegal waste dumping on farms if it is poorly planned.
The levy, to be introduced in 2019, will initially be set at $70 per tonne of general waste sent to landfill and will rise by $5 a year over four years.
Last week, QFF President Stuart Armitage said the new tax would make waste disposal more expensive for all businesses, including Queensland’s agricultural sector.
“There are numerous jurisdictions where a tax has been successful in driving growth and innovation, working in conjunction with a range of initiatives including, landfill bans, substantial R&D and innovation programs, demonstrator and pilot opportunities and importantly, complete and historical data regarding illegally dumped wastes,” Mr Armitage said.
But he cautioned that if all factors were not properly considered, adverse environmental, economic and social costs could occur.
“In the past, poorly planned taxes have resulted in unforeseen economic costs associated with the illegal stockpiling of wastes by both unlicenced and licenced sites attempting to evade their landfill tax liability, and a significant increase in illegally dumped wastes,” he said.
“In the UK where the landfill tax is £88.95/tonne (about $160), the National Farmers Union has classed illegal dumping as one of the major proponents of rural crime.
“QFF certainly does not want to see our regions and farms under siege from illegally dumped wastes.”
Mr Armitage said strong policy and an enforced regulatory framework were necessary to ensure landowners did not become the victims of illegally dumped waste from people and companies trying to avoid the higher disposal charges.
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