8 September, 2011

Cairns Regional Council today put forward its case for changes to proposed legislation that would be likely to place an extra charge on the treatment of household waste.

Council officers were involved in a teleconference with the Environment, Agriculture, Resources and Energy Parliamentary Committee as part of a two-day hearing to discuss impacts of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Bill 2011.

Council’s Water and Waste General Manager Bruce Gardiner said the hearing gave Council the opportunity to put forward its arguments and to be asked questions about its waste reduction program.

“Our position is that we are already exceeding the State Government’s target to recover and recycle 65 per cent of municipal solid waste (MSW) by 2020,” Mr Gardiner said.

“We achieve this by sending all MSW to the Bedminster resource recovery facility, which aerobically composts the majority of the waste. Under the proposed legislation, the residual waste to come out of this process would be classified as commercial waste and would attract a levy of $35 a tonne.

“To impose the commercial levy on this residual waste component appears to contradict the intent of the levy, which is to develop innovative and accessible resource recovery technologies to meet the waste reduction targets.

“We agree with the objectives of the Bill – they are in line with our own.”

Council is seeking to have its unique situation recognised either through minor changes to the Bill or through a special circumstances exemption.

In correspondence received by Council this afternoon, Environment Minister Vicky Darling said her department would work with Council toward a suitable solution.

Mayor Val Schier said the current waste treatment process was the result of a commitment by Council to be a leader in best practice waste management.

“We are continually striving to be Australia’s greenest Council and our waste processing system is one of the initiatives that are helping us to achieve that goal,” Cr Schier said.
“We divert about 75 per cent of household rubbish away from landfill. That is an effort that should be commended.

“We are leading the way in waste reduction in Queensland and we are proud of the achievements we have reached.”

The committee hearing wrapped up today, with the committee to review all submissions and prepare recommendations to Parliament by September 23.

If the Bill is successful, it will be implemented on December 1.