In early 2011, the QLD Government announced that a levy on industrial waste going to landfill would be introduced within the State. The industry waste levy will commence today, 1 December, 2011, however, unlike other States, it will not apply to households.
The purpose of this levy is to encourage businesses to opt for greater recycling and in turn decrease waste to landfill.
Getting the Facts
Waste levy will be payable on waste to landfill from 1st December 2011
Levy costs will be;
- $35 per tonne general waste
- $50 per tonne low hazard waste
- $150 per tonne high hazard waste
- Municipal waste is exempt
Objective of the QLD Waste Levy
The objective of the levy is to divert waste away from landfill and encourage the use of more sustainable waste disposal alternatives. By increasing the cost of traditional disposal methods, the levy will allow business to invest further in recycling and resource recovery solutions.
Who will be Affected?
All local government and private sector waste disposal facilities in south-east Queensland as well as major regional local government areas will be required to pay the levy on waste landfilled. These costs will be passed on to business.
The proposed levy zone covers around 99 per cent of the Queensland population and includes 34 local government areas.
How will the Levy affect your business?
Businesses within Queensland will be impacted by the cost of the levy and will therefore experience increased waste disposal costs.
The emphasis on increasing recycling and diverting waste from landfill will also require businesses to look at implementation of split waste and recycling systems, whilst also increasing existing recycling practices to include further separation of recyclable materials.
The introduction of this levy will also call for further vigilance from businesses with greater assistance and guidance from their waste management suppliers.
How can Veolia minimise the impacts?
Veolia can provide a comprehensive suite of services which will minimise waste generation, increase recycling and as a result minimise the impacts of waste on the environment including:
- Construction and demolition recycling;
- Providing customers with a comprehensive waste assessment to determine what efficiencies can be made and what solutions are best suited for each individual client;
- Implement split waste and recycling systems for all waste streams including; general waste, paper & cardboard, commingled glass and plastics, construction and demolition waste etc.;
- Provide waste reporting capabilities to demonstrate benefits of introducing waste segregation and recycling for customers;
- Deliver an extensive waste and recycling educational package including interactive e-learning, posters, signage and other educational materials.
Contact a Veolia Representative today to discuss the Qld Waste Levy and all of your waste and recycling needs.