State waste levy will not impact residents

The Queensland Government has introduced a new waste levy that will take effect from 1 July 2019.

In the Gympie Regional Council special general meeting today, waste management facility fees and charges were amended to ensure ratepayers were not affected by the levy.

So, what does this now mean for residents of the Gympie region?

The levy applies to all waste which is disposed of in landfill, including kerbside collection, however rate payers will not see any increase at the waste management facilities or on their rates as a result of the levy. Below is some information that may help clear up why we need the levy and how it affects you.

Around 10.9 million tonnes of waste was produced in 2017-18 in Queensland; enough to fill almost 9,000 Olympic sized swimming pools. The amount of waste we produce is also growing faster than our population.

Queensland is a major underperformer in recycling and resource recovery with more than half (55 per cent) of our waste ending up in landfill. One of the reasons for this is that Queensland is the only mainland state without a waste levy— resulting in Queensland becoming a hotspot for interstate rubbish.

The levy is part of a new waste strategy for Queensland to increase recycling and resource recovery and reduce waste. The levy will encourage business and industry to reduce, reuse and recycle more, only sending waste that cannot be recovered to landfill.

The levy applies to all waste which is disposed of in landfill, including kerbside collection. The levy is charged at $75 per tonne for general waste (municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial, construction and demolition).

Media Release Landfill operators are required to pay the levy to the Queensland Government. Each operator (council or privately owned) will determine how the levy is passed on to their customers, for example, through increased fees at the gate.

However, Gympie Regional Council will receive an annual payment from the state which will be used to pay the levy. Residents of the Gympie region will not be out of pocket when the levy takes effect. The levy amount of $37 will show as a separate line item on your rates notices, however all residents will receive a rebate on their rates for the same amount to ensure rate payers are not out of pocket.

Fees and charges at waste management facilities will not increase due to the levy for residents.

The levy does not apply to green waste. Disposal of lawn clippings and pre-shredded green waste (wood chips) will now be free from 1 July.

If you have any questions on the waste levy, you can contact council on 1300 307 800 or go to www.gympie.qld.gov.au.