The peak body representing Queensland councils has welcomed the State’s decision to continue offsetting the cost of the waste levy on household wheelie bins until the community has more options available to reduce the amount of rubbish going into landfill.
Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President and Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said the LGAQ and its member councils had been advocating for the advance waste levy payments – the mechanism designed by the State Government to offset the cost of the waste levy on households – to continue while investment is made to establish the circular economy Queensland needs to increase recycling and resource recovery.
“The State Government has today committed to continue those payments at 105 per cent for another financial year to give councils and their communities some immediate certainty,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“The State has then committed to a phased, sustainable transition in funding that reduces the payments as industry continues to develop, and households have access to the recycling and recovery options they need, to reduce the amount of waste going into their red lid bins.
“The transition arrangement acknowledges that 20 per cent of household rubbish currently cannot be diverted, so the State will continue payments to cover that portion.
“It has also committed to a further $1.1 billion in funding to encourage investment in a circular economy and create jobs.
“For this to work, it is vital new recycling and recovery industries, and markets, are established swiftly."
Mayor Jamieson said it was important the State ensured councils subject to the phased reduction in advance waste levy payments had access to other funding streams to help offset those reductions through increased investment in waste infrastructure.
“The LGAQ has requested the State ensures councils, as a tier of government, play a key role in finalising the design and delivery of infrastructure funding for local governments, as well as the review of the Queensland Waste Strategy, to make sure it can deliver across all of Queensland.
“Councils look forward to working with the State to encourage investment in the circular waste economy and to foster new industries like the organics industry which, alone, stands to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill by up to 50 per cent.
“Councils and households want to recycle more. They just need the right tools and options to make it happen.”
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Vogler, External Relations Director
Phone: 0438 447 370
Local Government Association of Queensland