Queensland Government Waste Levy

 

Queensland currently sends 55% of its waste to landfill.  The Queensland Government  has introduced a waste levy which commenced on 1 July 2019.  The levy is part of a state-wide waste management and resource recovery strategy, intended to increase recycling and recovery and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

Burdekin Shire Council is included in the levy zone, which includes 39 of 77 local government areas. The full levy zone can be viewed here.

The levy will not affect the cost of residents putting out their kerbside wheelie-bins.  The Queensland Government has providing advance payments to local councils to offset the levy on household waste going to landfill.

Who pays the levy?

Commercial businesses in the Burdekin region will incur the waste levy.

The levy will be imposed on all commercial waste including:

• Regulated waste as defined by the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008
• General waste such as construction and demolition waste
• Commercial and industrial waste
• Municipal solid waste
• Acid sulphate soil*
• Contaminated land listed on a register*

*Exemptions may apply.

The proposed levy rate starts at $75 (excluding GST) per tonne. Higher rates apply for regulated waste. This fee is an additional cost on top of the Burdekin Shire Council waste disposal charges.

How can the impact on businesses be reduced?

Materials that are recovered, reused or recycled (therefore not sent to landfill) do not attract the levy.

To minimise the impact of paying the levy, businesses will need to reduce their waste generation and recycle as efficiently as possible.

The more material that is diverted to recycling or resource recovery, the less possible impact the levy will have on businesses.

Residents are also encouraged to boost their recycling efforts by finding out what recycling opportunities are available in their local government area.

Useful links:

CCIQ ECOBIZ

For more information visit www.cciqecobiz.com.au.

Planet Ark Business Recycling

For more information visit www.businessrecycling.com.au.

For more information about the levy, click here.