Waste Levy Delayed, Increased

November 20, 2018

The State Government is delaying the introduction of its new Waste Levy by four months, and increase it from $70 to $75 per tonne.

The levy, which was originally planned to come into force on March 4 next year, will now start on July 1.

It will apply to 38 of Queensland’s 77 local government areas, including the South Burnett.

The government says the levy has been introduced partly to stem the dumping of thousands of tonnes of interstate waste in Queensland, and partly to foster the development of a recycling industry in the state.

Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said Queenslanders would not have to pay more to put out their wheelie bins every week.

This was because the government would make advance payments to councils to cover the levy’s costs.

“Queensland used to have a waste levy, but it was recklessly scrapped by the LNP,” she said.

“This robbed Queensland of the opportunity to invest in recycling and other waste management industries, and created an influx of trucks dumping waste here from other states.

“They (the LNP) should just come out and admit that they plan to keep the levy.”

Ms Enoch said during consultation about the waste levy, stakeholders, including representatives from local councils, had asked for a later starting date.

“After listening to the feedback, the government has decided that it is in the best interests of Queenslanders for the waste levy to commence on July 1, 2019,” she said.

The date of levy increments was also proposed to move to July 1 each year.

“Delaying the start of the levy and changing the increment dates requires the government to adjust the waste levy rate to ensure we don’t fall further behind other states,” Ms Enoch said.

“As such, the levy rate will start at $75 per tonne, but the first increase in levy rates will not be for 12 months.”

Ms Enoch said the waste management strategy was needed to increase recycling, improve investment in the sector and create new jobs.

“Queensland has one of the worst recycling rates in the country,” she said,

“Every year about 55 per cent of our waste is sent to landfill – that’s over 5 million tonnes.

“This amount of rubbish would fill the ‘Gabba nearly 18 times.

“We need to change that by working with industry, local government and the community.”

Ms Enoch said the introduction of a waste levy would bring Queensland in line with other Australian States.

She said the government had committed that 70 per cent of all revenue raised by the waste levy would go back to councils, the waste industry, scheme start-ups, and environmental programs.

Related articles: