On 1 December 2011 a State Government Waste Levy came into force across Queensland.

The industry waste levy is a charge on each tonne of commercial and industrial waste or construction and demolition waste that is added to landfill. It aims to encourage better diversion or recovery of useful resources by everyone in the waste process.

Waste levy charges

Businesses are required to pay from $35 per tonne extra when depositing landfill waste at council facilities and anyone with a commercial general waste bin service will notice the extra charge in their rates notice from January 2012. Recycling does not attract the levy. This state government levy is implemented by local governments across Queensland and is an action from the State Government’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Strategy 2010–2020 .

What can I do?

Businesses can reduce their exposure to the levy by rethinking their waste and recycling practices. Council is already working with Sunshine Coast businesses to reduce their waste, water and energy through the ecoBiz program There are some great resources available and it is a great place to start gathering information and advice. The Queensland Government Department of Environment and Resource Management website DERM  has a number of useful resources that may assist your business to rethink its waste and recycling practices:

For more information about Queensland State Government waste reforms, visit the Department of Environment and Resource Management website DERM . There are some great incentives available for businesses that change the way they handle their waste including: