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Queensland act
This is Queensland's main law for managing waste and encouraging recycling. It sets out how Queensland plans to reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfill (buried in the ground permanently), and how it wants to move toward a circular economy — a system where products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible, rather than being thrown away.
1. Sets a "waste hierarchy" — a priority order for how waste should be handled:
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Direct links to the current provisions in Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
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View on official registerSourced from Queensland Legislation (legislation.qld.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
2. Promotes a circular economy — manufacturers are encouraged (and eventually may be required) to design products that can be repaired, refurbished, or remanufactured rather than thrown away.
3. Introduces a waste levy — landfill operators in certain zones must pay the government a fee for every tonne of non-exempt waste deposited. This is meant to make landfill more expensive so businesses and councils have a financial incentive to recycle instead. Some waste is exempt from the levy, including:
4. Requires a State Waste Management Strategy — the government must create, publicly consult on, and regularly review a long-term plan for waste reduction across Queensland.
5. Requires waste management plans from local councils and industries.
6. Sets key principles everyone must follow:
7. Bans certain types of waste disposal and creates rules around illegal dumping and littering.
8. Provides enforcement powers, including appointing authorised officers to investigate and enforce the law.
If you run a business that generates significant waste, you may face levy costs, reporting requirements, and obligations to track your waste. If you manufacture products, you may be expected to design them for reuse. Local councils have specific planning duties. For ordinary residents, this law shapes the recycling systems and waste services available to you — and sets the legal boundaries around what you can and can't do with rubbish.