Queensland Waste Levy

From 1 July 2019.

Around 10.9 million tonnes of waste was produced in 2017-18 in Queensland, enough to fill almost 9,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The amount of waste we produce is also growing faster than our population.

Queensland is a major underperformer in recycling and resource recovery with more than half (55%) of our waste ending up in landfill.

One of the reasons for this is that Queensland was the only mainland state without a waste levy—resulting in Queensland becoming a hotspot for interstate rubbish.

The levy will encourage business and industry to reduce, reuse and recycle more, only sending waste that cannot be recovered to landfill.

As the region’s landfill operator, the Central Highlands Regional Council is required to administer the levy and pay it to the state government.

Council therefore determines how the levy is passed down to customers.

The levy does not apply to wheelie bin waste or residential waste that you take to the landfill. However, the introduction of the levy has lead to some changes in council’s transfer station and tip operations, that may have an indirect impact on people. This includes reducing the opening hours. Scroll down in the FAQ’s to find out why council needs to do this.

Business pay a waste levy. To reduce levy charges, businesses are encouraged to reduce waste generation and recycle as much as possible. The Queensland Government has helpful resources available here.

The waste levy is applied to general waste streams, including municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste, and construction and demolition waste.

The levy is also applied to regulated (or hazardous) waste.

To find out about levy rates visit the Queensland Government’s waste disposal levy page.

Some waste is exempt from the levy, such as waste from natural disasters and waste collected from around charity bins.

The Queensland Government has more information on waste that is exempt from the levy.

Due to potential increases in illegal dumping, council needs greater control and monitoring over the waste that is disposed of at landfills, transfer stations and bin stations.

This means our region’s 18 waste facilities are manned or have restricted access.

Because of current staff numbers and the vast size of our region, operating hours will have to be reduced to achieve this.

Key access only was provided to local residents by 31 December 2019 for these facilities:

• Bauhinia
• Willows
• Fernlees (closure by 30 June 2020)
• Gindie
• Anakie
• Bogantungan
• Comet (closure by 30 June 2020)

 Regular operating hours:

Facilities with alternating weekend arrangements (as per community feedback):

Unfortunately, this may be the case. That’s why council is committed to ensuring all facilities are manned when open or have restricted access by community members only.

Find out more about illegal dumping and how to report illegal dumping.