FINAL WASTE PLAN 2023 - 2028 · Attachment 1: From Waste to Resource Waste Plan 2023-28

“This is not about what it will cost                                                      “Take responsibility for their own waste reduction
to do this, it’s about what it will                                                       and recycling - Council should not be seen as the
cost in the long term if we don’t.”                                                       one responsible - we are responsible as citizens
                                                                                          whether young or old.”
- Waste Survey Respondent
                                                                                          - Waste Survey Respondent




Cost Savings
A waste levy was introduced by the Queensland              waste, and regulated waste. The levy does not apply
Government on 1 July 2019, to reduce the amount            to recyclable materials.
of waste going to landfill, and to maximise resource
recovery and recycling. Initially, the waste levy was      Waste costs are expected to increase. In the 2022/23
charged to commercial operators but as of 1 July           financial year, the State waste levy was $95 per
2023 the levy will be applied to both commercial and       tonne, and the Council cost was $162 per tonne. The
domestic customers.                                        State government levy will increase annually by $10
                                                           per tonne, until it reaches $145 per tonne on 1 July
In the 2021/22 financial year, the State waste levy        2027.
was $85 per tonne (excl. GST). Separate to the State
waste levy, every tonne of waste sent to landfill          There is a significant cost to sending waste to landfill.
costs Council $147 per tonne. Approximately 45,000         Every tonne of waste that can be reused and recycled
tonnes were sent to the Landfill, resulting in a total     is a cost saving and even has potential to create
cost of $6.6 million. Moreover, a landfill extension was   revenue through the sale of materials.
constructed costing $9 million.

The levy applies to various waste types, including
municipal solid waste, construction and demolition


From Waste to Resource | Waste Plan 2023 - 2028                                                                                                12