If you’re a resident of Brisbane, you might want to sit down before reading this.
The Brisbane City Council has just announced a major rollout of a new waste management program, which includes an extra $50 waste levy for households.
This move is part of the council’s annual budget and aims to help the city dodge the state government’s “bin tax”.
What’s Changing?
From August, the council will introduce the Universal Waste Charge, an opt-out green waste program for around 170,000 standalone households.
This program will replace the existing Waste Utility Charge and scrap surcharges. Instead, residents will be charged a flat annual fee of $512.96, whether they use the new green waste bin or not.
That’s an increase of about $50 per year.
Who’s Affected?
If you already pay for a green waste bin, you won’t have to cop the extra fee. However, if you don’t want the bin, you’ll still have to pay the additional charge.
The council says that other households will pay an extra $49.52 a year, with $33 of this increase related to the waste levy introduced by the former Labor state government.
The Reason Behind the Change
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the annual fee is part of a “large-scale tax-avoidance scheme” that will help the council avoid the state government’s “bin tax”.
The introduction of green bins will also help reduce the strain on growing landfills.
The state government levy, which was introduced in 2019, charges the council around $115 per tonne of waste in landfills. This levy is expected to increase by $10 every year until 2028.
The Benefits of the New Program
The council estimates that the new program will save between $2m and $3m in the first year alone. Over the next five years, the council expects to save around $32m.
The annual fee will also help reduce the amount of waste heading into landfills. As part of the new program, every household will receive a green bin, which will be part of the standard service.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’re a Brisbane resident, you can expect to see a new green waste bin at your doorstep soon. The rollout of the new program is expected to take place between August and December.
While the extra fee might seem like a burden, the council says it’s a necessary step to avoid the state government’s “bin tax” and reduce waste in landfills.
So, get ready to make some changes to your waste management routine and help Brisbane become a more sustainable city.