2018-06-27 SM - Attachment 1 to Item 2 - Directions Paper Transforming Queensland's Recycling & Waste Industry

Introduction
On 20 March 2018, the Queensland Government announced         Importantly, the levy will also provide a disincentive to
the development of a comprehensive waste management           the practice of long-distance transport of waste for
strategy underpinned by a waste disposal levy to increase     disposal in Queensland. Queensland is currently the only
recycling and recovery and create new jobs.                   mainland state that does not have a levy on the disposal
                                                              of waste to landfill. The introduction of a levy was
This paper outlines the directions for Queensland’s new       recommended in the independent Investigation into the
resource recovery, recycling and waste management             Transport of Waste into Queensland report commissioned
strategy that will support the Government’s Advance           by the Premier in August 2017.
Queensland agenda by promoting growth and jobs in the
resource recovery and recycling industry. The strategy        Part A of this paper outlines the underlying directions for
will provide the waste and resource recovery sector with      the waste disposal levy, including the proposed model
the policy certainty that has been lacking, resulting         and the levy’s role within the strategy.
in significant under investment in new and expanded
resource recovery infrastructure in Queensland.               Part B of this paper outlines the direction the Government
                                                              will take to reinvigorate Queensland’s waste strategy.
                                                              The development of a new waste strategy will fulfil the
                                                              statutory requirement under the Waste Reduction and
   Key principles                                             Recycling Act 2011 (the Act). The final comprehensive
                                                              waste strategy will be released following the statutory
                                                              consultation process required by the Act.
   Queensland’s new waste management strategy will:
   • Attract industry investment and innovation               The strategy will also contain proposed regulatory and
   • Create new jobs for our communities                      complementary measures, such as landfill disposal
                                                              bans and product stewardship programs that will help
   • Have no direct impact on Queensland households
                                                              reinforce the effect of the levy in reducing the amount of
   • Deliver long-term value to our environment               waste disposed to landfill.
   • Move Queensland towards a circular economy
                                                              The Department of Environment and Science (the
                                                              department) has established a Recycling and Waste
                                                              Management Stakeholder Advisory Group. The Advisory
The centrepiece of the strategy will be a waste disposal      Group is comprised of peak body representatives from
levy. An avoidable charge, the waste disposal levy will be    industry, local government and the housing and business
instrumental in changing waste management behaviour           sectors. The role of the Advisory Group is to:
and practices in Queensland. It will reduce the incentive
to dispose of waste to landfill, make material that is         • help shape the new strategy
currently disposed of more attractive to be diverted as a     • identify opportunities for industry and
vital feedstock for the state’s biofutures industries and        market development
create new industries that manufacture products using         • assist in the design of the waste disposal levy
recycled content. A crucial element of the levy design will   • advise on potential companion measures to
be measures that avoid direct cost impacts to households         complement the strategy and levy
as a result of the levy.
                                                              • advise on potential challenges and impediments that
The waste disposal levy will provide a much needed               may pose barriers to improved practice, and offer
source of funding for programs to support local                  solutions to overcome these challenges.
government, business and industry in reducing the
amount of waste they generate and increase recycling,         The development of the waste strategy will be informed
and for the development of new markets and products.          not only through feedback and advice from the Advisory
A portion of the funds raised through the levy will           Group and as a result of public consultation, but also by
also be put towards programs to enhance the natural           waste data reports and commissioned reports.
environment that all Queenslanders enjoy.




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