Local councils have welcomed new laws governing the future of waste management in Queensland but will remain vigilant in ensuring that households not wear the costs of the waste levy that comes into effect on 1 July this year.
The Local Government Association of Queensland congratulated the Palaszczuk Government on consulting with councils on the new laws, a move which had resulted in several improvements to the rollout of a key part of the State’s waste strategy.
These improvements included deferring the start of the waste levy until 1 July 2019 and a commitment to ensure any future increases in the cost of the levy would be aligned with financial years.
LGAQ chief executive Greg Hallam said much of the waste levy detail was outside the principal legislation and would be included in subsequent regulations.
“But we anticipate those regulations will ensure a 3-year waste levy moratorium on council road scrapings for non-SEQ councils, $6 million for a regional recycling transport assistance program, exemptions for self-haul waste and waste from public parks and conditional exemptions for non-disaster declared local events,” he said.
“We have supported having all the funds from the waste levy being channeled back into resource recovery, recycling initiatives and other reforms to ensure Queensland has a zero waste future.”
“We note the Government’s commitment to ensuring 70 percent of the revenue raised from the levy would go back to councils and the waste industry to be invested on projects aimed at improving waste management.”
“That is a good outcome, particularly when you compare it with waste levy investment in other states.”
“The LGAQ calls on the Government to work in partnership with councils to develop a waste strategy to advance a zero-waste future by no later than 2035, including implementation of a waste data program, regional waste strategies, infrastructure plans and developing an Energy from Waste policy.”