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The Queensland Government introduced a levy on waste going to landfill from 1 July 2019 to encourage increased recycling and resource recovery and to reduce the amount of waste to going landfill.
The levy commences at $75 per tonne and increases by $5 per tonne each year for the first four years.
The levy is paid by landfill operators, such as Toowoomba Regional Council, to the Queensland Government. The Queensland Government provides a rebate to landfill operators for all domestic waste so that the levy does not directly impact domestic customers.
Domestic customers see no change in waste fees and charges for kerbside collections or at their local TRC waste management facility as a result of the waste levy but are encouraged to reduce their waste and increase recycling at home. More information regarding recycling can be found in our recycling options web page.
For households 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 is working on developing an assistance scheme to offset the cost of the levy for residents in these types of accommodation. Further information will be available once the eligibility criteria and assistance scheme have received State Government approval.
Charitable recycling organisations that meet the eligibility criteria may receive an exemption from the levy. Visit the Charitable Recycling Australia website (formally known as NACRO) for more information.
Council fees and charges for commercial waste going to landfill include cost recovery of the waste levy and applicable GST. This increase will be $93.50 per tonne (i.e. $85 per tonne waste levy + 10% GST), resulting in a base rate for landfilled waste of $203.20/tonne in 2021-2022.
Fees and charges for waste not disposed of in landfill are not affected by the waste levy, therefore encouraging recycling and reducing waste to landfill. The levy also does not apply to asbestos or asbestos-containing materials.
Council’s 2022-2023 Fees and Charges are available on our website. Apart from changes due to the waste levy, there have been no increases to waste facility fees and charges.
Reducing waste, separating waste and recycling more will help us all reduce waste disposal costs. EcoBiz provides free tailored advice to businesses on how to reduce your waste, energy and water.
Queensland Government contact information:
