A $159 million fund starts accumulating today to help businesses cut waste costs, develop new markets for recycled materials and crack down on illegal dumping and littering.
Environment Minister Vicky Darling said the environment, local councils and new green industries would be the big winners from an Industry Waste Levy on commercial and industry waste sent to landfill which starts today.
“It is not a levy that will affect households – it is an Industry Waste Levy and it’s avoidable,” said Ms Darling.
The State Government says other states are to blame for the Queensland being the biggest generator of waste.
“Because dumping to landfill has been so cheap in Queensland, we have even been receiving other state’s waste – because they have had a charge on landfill and we haven’t,” said Ms Darling.
“The levy, along with the $159 million Waste Avoidance and Resource Efficiency Fund, will help prevent dumping becoming the first option in Queensland.”
Further information on the waste reform package is available on the Department of Environment and Resource Management website at www.derm.qld.gov.au/waste.
