The government has developed the Queensland Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy. Together with the waste management levy, this strategy sets out a framework for Queensland to become a zero-waste society. The framework’s objective is to reuse and recycle as much waste as possible and is applicable to industry and state and local governments.
The government’s strategy has established the following targets for 2050:
- 25 per cent reduction in household waste
- 90 per cent of waste is recovered and does not go to landfill
- 75 per cent recycling rates across all waste types.
Of the 77 local governments across the state, 74 operate landfill sites and recycling centres. Local governments face a range of financial and operational pressures to manage their waste, including diminishing landfill capacity, increased regulatory requirements (including environmental factors), and waste management levies.
This audit will assess the effectiveness of state government strategies. This will include its effectiveness in assisting councils to manage waste to achieve relevant targets.
- Department of Environment and Science
- Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
- selected local governments.