Queensland waste levy
The Queensland Government introduced a levy on waste going to landfill on 1 July 2019 to encourage increased recycling and resource recovery and to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. The levy increases yearly.
Levy yearly increases
The levy commenced at $75 per tonne and increases each year, as shown in the table below:
| Financial year |
Levy rate per tonne |
| 2019-20 |
$75 |
| 2020-21 |
$80 |
| 2021-22 |
$85 |
| 2022-23 |
$95 |
| 2023-24 |
$105 |
| 2024-25 |
$115 |
| 2025-26 |
$125 |
| 2026-27 |
$135 |
| 2027-28 |
$145 |
How the levy is paid
As landfill operators, we collect the levy through fees and charges and pay it to the Queensland Government. To help recover this cost, our fees and charges for commercial waste going to landfill include cost recovery of the waste levy and applicable GST. This fee is $137.50 per tonne ($125 per tonne waste levy + 10% GST), resulting in a base rate for landfilled waste of $268.60/tonne.
Levy assistance or exemptions
Commercial waste collection services: For residents who have commercial waste collection services, such as caravan parks, manufactured home parks, retirement villages, boarding houses, crisis accommodation, gated communities and rural residents with commercial bulk-waste arrangements, the State Government provides an assistance scheme to offset the cost of the levy for residents in these types of accommodation.
Charitable recycling organisations: Charitable recycling organisations that meet the eligibility criteria may receive an exemption from the levy. Visit the Charitable Recycling Australia website for more information.
Waste reductions goals
By 2050 we're aiming for:
- 25% reduction in household waste
- 90% of waste recovered and not in landfill
- 75% recycling rates across all waste types.
Bin audits
The latest bin audit showed that 70% of waste in the average general waste bin in Toowoomba can be avoided, reused or recycled as 33% is food waste, 24% is green waste and 13% is recyclables.