A push for statewide waste management arrangements is under way, and it is not clear how much they would cost ratepayers or taxpayers.
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Councils last week agreed in principle to a feasibility study into establishing a statewide local government waste management arrangement.
A new body would potentially be on top of regional waste management groups, or might replace them.
Councils are expected to consider a cost estimate and plans for the scope of a study in July,.
If the study went ahead, results might be ready for consideration by November.
It is possible a new arrangement would include infrastructure and ownership.
A report presented at last week’s Local Government Association of Tasmania meeting said: “It would be stipulated in the scope of work that any new arrangements would have to be at no detriment to councils.”
That raised questions about potential rate hikes or attempts to gain taxpayer funds for a new model.
The study itself would be expected to cost about $100,000.
The LGAT report said the lack of a statewide landfill levy had created a market environment where resource recovery had a limited capacity to compete with landfill.
“The low landfill diversion rates in Tasmania result in a low economic benefit from the waste and recycling sector and the loss of the value of recoverable resource,” the report said.
“Significant opportunities exist for improving resource recovery rates which target priority materials such as organics and materials from ... construction and demolition, optimising kerbside systems, upgrade of local government infrastructure to best practice and addressing more efficient collection of problematic wastes such as hazardous household wastes.”
China’s ban on taking overseas recyclable waste has given the issue more urgency, and increased the financial attraction of sending it to landfill.
China took about 30 per cent of Australia’s recyclable waste.
“The recent issues resulting from the Chinese policy changes and its impact on kerbside recycling highlight the need for there to be leadership and action on waste management in Tasmania and local government can no longer afford to wait for the state government,” the LGAT report said.
“Tasmania does not have a dedicated body with capacity to provide advice on statewide waste issues to the Tasmanian government, or the resources to deliver statewide programs.”
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