Launceston Council will pay $456k a month by 2025 under proposed Tasmanian waste levy

A waste levy is charged on materials being sent to landfill for disposal, it's proposed a $20 per tonne from November and will increase every two years to $40 in 2023 and $60 in 2025.

The City of Launceston council believes the implementation timeline is unrealistic and problematic from a rates perspective to be implemented by November and has asked the landfill levy is not introduced until July 1, 2022.

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Mayor Albert van Zetten will write to Environment Minister Roger Jaensch on behalf of the council to provide input into the Draft Waste and Resource Recovery Bill.

In the submission, he said a delay would allow the levy to align with the financial year and allow it to be passed onto residential rates.

"Waste charges for ratings purposes are set in March/April. There is no available mechanism to alter this charge until the following financial year," he said.

The Launceston Waste Centre receives about 7600 tonnes of landfill per month, meaning it would initially cost the council up to $152,000 a month and by the $60 per tonne, about $456,000 a month.

As a member of the Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group, the council already pays $7.50 per tonne voluntarily to fund the group.

The council's sustainability team leader Michael Attard said the levy meant increased landfill gate fees and consequently waste charges would increase within residential rates.

The submission also raised concerns about if the proposed levy would be exempt from GST, if reusable materials would be exempt and if charity concessions could be given.

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