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

Waste investigation
In August 2017, the Queensland Government                     The introduction of a waste disposal levy will:
commissioned the Honourable Peter Lyons QC, former            • act as a price signal that encourages waste avoidance
Supreme Court Judge, to undertake an investigation into          and resource recovery behaviour, and discourages
the transport of waste into Queensland.                          disposal as the first option
The investigation found there is a real prospect that the     • provide an adequate source of funding for programs
quantity of waste from interstate will continue to increase      to assist local government, business and industry to
under the current policy framework.                              establish better resource recovery practices, improve
                                                                 overall waste management practices and sustain
The key recommendation of the investigation is that the          Queensland’s natural environment
Government consider implementing a general levy on all        • provide certainty and security of feedstocks for
waste disposed of at landfill in Queensland.                     advanced technologies and processing
On 20 March 2018, the Government released the report          • facilitate industry investment in resource
and its response to the recommendations, including the           recovery infrastructure.
development of a new waste strategy and re-introduction
                                                              To be effective and engender business, industry and
of the waste disposal levy.
                                                              community confidence, a waste disposal levy must be
The Queensland Government supports the re-introduction        applied in the context of the new comprehensive waste
of a waste disposal levy on the condition there is no         strategy described in Part B.
direct cost impact on households.
                                                              The Recycling and Waste Management Stakeholder
The investigation considered the comparable regulatory        Advisory Group will assist in refining the design of the
frameworks across Australia and internationally. The          waste disposal levy. A key design factor for the levy is
report also recommended that Government continue              ensuring it incorporates measures to avoid direct cost
discussions with other jurisdictions on a national            impacts to Queensland households.
framework to reduce the unnecessary transportation of
                                                              A significant communications and education program will
waste within Australia.
                                                              ensure Queenslanders better understand the benefits
In response to the investigation report, industry feedback    of the levy including where the levy revenue will be
and recommendations, and international and national           spent and how it will operate to meet long-term goals
best practice waste management experience, the                and targets to improve waste management and resource
Queensland Government intends to re-introduce a waste         recovery practices.
disposal levy that will be operated along similar lines to
the previous levy with some important modifications.




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