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

     PART A—
     Waste disposal levy
     A waste disposal levy was first introduced in December 2011. The levy of
     $35.00 per tonne applied to all general waste disposed of to landfill, with
     the exception of MSW (Municipal Solid Waste—household waste collected
     by or under contract to local government). Some exemptions also applied for
     charity waste (on application) and disaster management waste. A discounted
     levy rate also applied to the disposal of recycling residuals.

     A levy zone comprised of 34 local government areas was established. Public
     and private sector landfills within the levy zone were required to report on
     the waste received for disposal and remit levy payments to the department.
     To avoid the transport of waste for disposal to cheaper or lower standard
     landfills in other parts of the state, the levy also applied to waste that was
     generated within the levy zone and disposed of outside the levy zone.

     In 2012, the former Queensland Government (2012–2015) repealed the levy.
     In a two-stage approach, the levy was changed to $0 through regulation in
     July 2012 with amendments to the Act to remove the levy provisions occurring
     at the end of 2012.

     During the seven months the levy was in place, $42.9 million was collected.
     Levy revenue was directed to three funds: the Waste and Recycling Program
     Fund, the Local Government Sustainable Futures Fund (administered by the Local
     Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ)) and an Environment Fund.

     Advance funding was provided to assist local government install weighbridges
     and other infrastructure at landfill facilities. This funding ceased when the
     levy was terminated.

     The levy received considerable criticism and backlash from the business
     sector because household waste was excluded from the levy.

     The removal of the levy in 2012, combined with the inability of the New South
     Wales (NSW) Government to restrict the long distance transport of its waste,
     has resulted in more than 900,000 tonnes of interstate waste being reported
     as received in Queensland in 2016–17.




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