Brisbane residents will soon face a $50 waste levy as the city launches a new green bin program that will be rolled out to nearly 170,000 households starting in August. This initiative, implemented by the Brisbane City Council, will raise the overall annual waste charge to $512.96. Importantly, even those who choose not to receive a green bin will still incur the new fee.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner explained that this universal charge is designed to treat the green bin like the yellow-top recycling bin, promoting consistent waste management across the city. He emphasised that the initiative serves to help avoid the state government’s increasing landfill tax, which levies additional costs on waste disposal. Currently, the green waste recycling program helps the city save approximately $1.6 million annually in state taxes.
Schrinner referred to this approach as part of a broader strategy to tackle state-imposed charges, stating, “We’re running a large scale tax avoidance scheme, because I don’t want anyone to have to pay the state government’s bin tax.” He further argued that if the levy were not introduced, residents could ultimately face much higher costs.
By increasing recycling rates through the new green bin initiative, the council aims to reduce local taxes related to waste, thereby lowering overall expenses for residents. Schrinner’s comments reflect a proactive stance on waste management that seeks to alleviate the financial burden on Brisbane households by curtailing unnecessary state tax payments.
In summary, Brisbane’s new green waste program will introduce a levy for all residents, whether they opt for a green bin or not, with the intention of boosting recycling and saving on state tax costs associated with landfill disposal.