Queensland State Government Waste Disposal Levy

The Queensland State Government introduced a Waste Disposal Levy (Waste Levy) on 1 July 2019.

The Waste Levy underpins the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy developed by the Queensland Government. The strategy seeks to minimise waste being sent to landfills and encourage increased recycling.

The Waste Levy is payable by the City on all waste disposed to landfill. We recover the cost of the Waste Levy from customers.

Waste Levy from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024

*Excludes GST where applicable.

Learn more about Waste disposal fees and where concessions apply.

Residential customers

The Queensland Government provides an annual payment to the City to offset the cost of the Waste Levy incurred for the disposal of residential waste. This payment has offset the cost of household waste to landfill and there has been no direct financial impact on residential customers.

From 1 July 2023 however, this payment will be reduced, while the Waste Levy charge will increase, posing a potential significant cost to the City and ratepayers.

The introduction of the green organics as part of standard kerbside collection services will divert enough waste from landfill to ensure there continues to be no financial impact for residents in 2023-24. However, it’s likely there will be an impact on rates and charges from 2024-25.

You can actively work towards reducing the potential impact of the Waste Levy by minimising waste placed in your general waste bin, avoiding single use items, and repairing, reusing and recycling.

Learn more about our waste and recycling initiatives which can assist you in minimising the impact of the Waste Levy.

A Household Waste and Payment Scheme has been developed for households who also have commercial waste collections to offset the cost of the Waste Levy.

Commercial customers

Commercial waste disposed to a landfill is subject to the full Waste Levy. Council has increased gate fees for self haul waste and the Waste Management Utility Charge for waste collections for commercial customers to recover the cost of the Waste Levy .

You can reduce the cost of the Waste Levy by:

• getting a commercial food waste recycling service
• ensuring you have an appropriate size recycling bin to recycle as much as possible
• amending your service requirements to ensure you are not being over-serviced
• finding local waste recycling facilities and businesses in our recycling business directory, they can accept and collect your unwanted items
• contacting ecoBiz — a free program which helps businesses to reduce their energy, water and waste costs
• utilising ASPIRE which is an online matchmaking platform subsidised by us for businesses with less than 100 employees.

Waste Levy rates are scheduled in the Waste Reduction and Recycling Regulation 2011.

Further information about the Waste Levy is available on the Queensland Government website at www.qld.gov.au/wastedisposallevy

Should you have any questions, please email Enquiries.QWDS@des.qld.gov.au.

Not-for-profit groups

Not-for-profit groups are encouraged to apply for a Waste Levy exemption through the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations (NACRO).