{"id":210801,"date":"2018-06-08T11:46:23","date_gmt":"2018-06-08T01:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=210801"},"modified":"2018-06-08T11:46:23","modified_gmt":"2018-06-08T01:46:23","slug":"lgaq-rejects-waste-levy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/06\/08\/lgaq-rejects-waste-levy\/","title":{"rendered":"LGAQ Rejects Waste Levy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam
(Photo: LGAQ)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 8, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has rejected the State Government’s plan to introduce a waste levy on all domestic and household waste from January 1.<\/p>\n

On Friday, the government released a directions paper for ‘Transforming Queensland\u2019s Recycling and Waste Industry’ which outlined its plans for the management of waste and recycling in Queensland.<\/p>\n

LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam said the association supported a levy on commercial, industrial, construction and demolition waste.<\/p>\n

It also welcomed measures to better protect the environment through improved recycling and less waste going into landfill.<\/p>\n

But Mr Hallam warned the State Government was not being upfront about the household waste rebate.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“In its own document, the government has indicated it can review the proposed 105 per cent rebate to councils for household waste any time in the future,” Mr Hallam said.<\/p>\n

“This gives no certainty to ratepayers, who will bear the financial burden (of the levy).\u201d<\/p>\n

Another concern for the LGAQ was the lack of commitment from the government to ensure the levy was returned to where it was most needed.<\/p>\n

Mr Hallam said the majority of the waste levy revenue could be syphoned into State Treasury, as it is in other States, instead of supporting a circular waste economy, the development of Queensland\u2019s recycling industry and zero-waste-to-landfill initiatives.<\/p>\n

“This matter will be front and centre of debate at next week\u2019s Local Government Waste Forum being hosted by the LGAQ in Brisbane,” Mr Hallam said.<\/p>\n

Representatives from Queensland councils – including mayors, councillors, and CEOs – would be discussing the waste levy, as well as waste-to-energy initiatives.<\/p>\n

The LGAQ\u2019s Policy Executive recently committed Queensland councils to a zero-waste-to-landfill strategy by 2028.<\/p>\n

“We want to ensure Queensland is a global leader in creating a circular economy for waste management that will be good for our children and generations to come,\u201d Mr Hallam said.<\/p>\n

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