QFF Calls For Waste Levy Refinements

The State Government’s new Waste Levy which will be introduced next March will impose a $70 per tonne fee on landfill waste … but unless the law is changed, farmers will bear the cost of any illegal dumping that occurs on their farms (Photo: SBRC)

October 24, 2018

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has called on the State Government to plug holes in its new Waste Levy surrounding illegal dumping.

The call comes after a Parliamentary committee recommendation that the Waste Levy be enacted without changes.

The levy will come into operation on March 4 next year.

It will introduce a $70 per tonne fee for general waste sent to landfill, and will affect 90 per cent of Queensland’s population.

President Stuart Armitage said the QFF was calling on the government to implement an enforced regulatory framework to ensure landowners were not victims of illegally dumped waste.

Where illegal dumping did occur, the QFF wanted to ensure landowners didn’t bear the levy costs.

“QFF has repeatedly raised concerns about the likelihood of increased illegal dumping on both public and private land,” Mr Armitage said.

“Farmland provides opportunities for unscrupulous operators to avoid landfill fees by illegally dumping waste, leaving the landowner to not only pay for the clean-up costs but the levy as well in the prescribed local government areas.”

“While the Department of Environment and Science supported QFF’s position on higher penalties for illegal dumping offences, the provisions in the bill do not go far enough and are meaningless where a polluter cannot be identified.”

The QFF has also raised concerns the new tax would make waste disposal more expensive for all businesses, including Queensland’s agricultural sector.

“There is a lack of awareness of the impacts this new tax will have on waste generators and businesses, particularly farmers who are unable to pass on the increased operating costs,” Mr Armitage said.

“These impacts need to be properly costed and addressed by decision-makers, and the gaps in the proposed regulation of illegally dumped waste closed.”

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