Levy to encourage communities to reduce, reuse and recycle

With the Queensland Government levy on waste quickly approaching, Gladstone Regional Council is encouraging all residents to think twice about their waste habits.

Taking effect from 1 July 2019, the levy is part of a new waste strategy for Queensland to increase recycling and resource recovery and reduce waste.

Gladstone Region Councillor Rick Hansen invited all community members to take up the challenge of reducing their own waste, in any way they can.

“Queensland is the only mainland state without a waste levy, and our state is sending more than half of our waste to landfill,” Councillor Hansen said.

“The levy is about reducing waste to landfill and increasing recycling and resource recovery.

“It encourages our community to consider how we can make simple changes in everyday life to reduce the heavy burden of waste on our beautiful natural environment, the Southern Great Barrier Reef, our wildlife, and our own health.”

Cr Hansen said all members of the community can make simple changes and assist in reducing their impact on the environment.

“It is time to make a change and rethink what we do with our waste, as a lot of it can be reused, reduced, recycled or avoided altogether,” he said.

“Every action, big or small, makes a difference.”

Cr Hansen also encouraged members of the community to attend the annual Ecofest event (2 June) in preparation for the levy to take effect from July.

“The theme of this year’s Ecofest event - “Slim your bin with a low waste diet”, is very fitting given the introduction of the levy,” he said.

“Representatives from Gladstone Regional Council’s Waste Services team will be speaking about sustainable waste reduction and representatives from Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens will be speaking about composting, worm farming and bokashi bins.”

For more information and to find out the simple changes you can make around your household, please visit www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/recycling