Deputy Mayor calls for more local reinvestment of state waste levy
By Sonia Isaacs
SUNSHINE Coast Deputy Mayor Maria Suarez has called on the Queensland Government to reinvest a greater share of its waste levy revenue back into local waste management programs, warning councils are struggling to deliver sustainable waste solutions without adequate state support.
Her comments follow Sunshine Coast Council’s defence of rising waste disposal charges across the region amid community frustration over higher tip fees. The council said increasing service delivery costs and the escalating State Government Waste Levy were key contributors.
Speaking after the recent Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) conference, Cr Suarez said that while the levy was introduced with good intentions, it has placed growing financial pressure on local governments. “The intent behind the tax is noble; it’s supposed to drive councils away from simply burying waste and toward recycling and resource recovery,” she said. “But the reality is, councils pay millions in levies to the state, and not enough of that money makes its way back for local waste solutions.”
The most recent State Budget projects the waste levy will raise about $477 million this financial year. Cr Suarez said there needs to be greater clarity around how those funds are distributed to ensure they are effectively supporting waste reduction and recycling initiatives.
“We’re expected to innovate, develop organics programs, expand recycling, and explore new technologies – but without reinvestment from the levy, many councils simply don’t have the resources to deliver,” she said.
Cr Suarez said the policy is also increasing cost-of-living pressures on households as councils are forced to pass on higher waste management costs.
“The state says it doesn’t want to create new financial pressures for the community, but by withdrawing discounts and increasing levies, that’s exactly what’s happening,” she said.
She called for greater transparency and stronger collaboration between state and local governments to ensure the levy achieves its intended environmental outcomes.
A spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said the levy aims to reduce landfill reliance by incentivising recycling and resource recovery, applying only to waste sent to landfill.
“Almost 80 per cent of levy revenue was reinvested back into waste and environmental initiatives last financial year,” the spokesperson said, citing programs such as the $130 million Resource Recovery Boost Fund, $151 million GROW FOGO Fund, and $13 million Let’s Get It Sorted Partnership program.
www.qld.gov.au/environment/circular-economy-waste-reduction/disposal-levy.