Waste Strategy and Commercial Waste Levy Snap Poll

On 5 June 2010 the Queensland Government announced the introduction of a Commercial Waste Levy. The levy as currently proposed will apply from 1 July 2011 to all businesses in Queensland but will not apply to municipal (or household) waste. The levy is intended to provide a price signal to encourage improved waste practices and increased recycling across the business sector. It will also fund environmental and waste avoidance programs and infrastructure.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland believes the Queensland business community is being unfairly targeted under this proposal and believes that all members of the community should equally bear the cost and responsibility for waste reduction in Queensland. We also believe the business community are already making a significant contribution to the recycling and waste reduction effort.

To assist CCIQ better understand the waste and recycling practices of Queensland businesses we invite you to complete this short snap poll. The information gained through this survey will assist us in arguing a more balanced business friendly waste management strategy.

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* 1. To help us estimate the volume of waste your business generates, please indicate the size and number of bin/s used for mixed general waste at your business premise?

Mobile Garbage Bin (120 - 240ltr Wheelie Bins)

Four Wheel (660 - 1100ltr) Plastic Bin

Four Wheel Steel Bin 1.5 cubic metres

Four Wheel Steel Bin 3 cubic metres

Four Wheel Steel Bin 4.5 cubic metres

Example Skip/Hooklift and Bulk Waste Bins

Skip/Hooklift and Bulk Waste Bins - 2-4 cubic metre

Skip/Hooklift and Bulk Waste Bins - 5-8 cubic metre

Skip/Hooklift and Bulk Waste Bins - 9-12 cubic metre

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* 2. How often are your general waste bins collected from your business premise?

Daily

Every 2nd day

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

Other (please specify)

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* 3. On average, how full is your bin at the time of collection?

Up to a quarter full

Half full

Three quarters full

100% full

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* 4. If your business currently recycles, reuses or recovers waste (i.e. does not dispose of it into general rubbish collection), please indicate what materials your business recycles, reuses or recovers:

Printer cartridges

Glass

Bottles and containers

Metal and steel

Batteries

Other, please indicate

Animal waste

Plastics

Oils, grease and sludges

Electronic and computer equipment

Wood, timber and sawdust

Cooking Oil

Concrete

Paint and solvents

Clean fill and soils

None/do not recycle, reuse or recover any waste

Paper and Newspaper

Cardboard

Tyres and rubber

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Do you believe your business currently recycles, reuses and recovers everything it possibly could and that there is capacity/potential to reduce the amount of waste your business sends to landfill?

Yes, there is a lot more we could recover/recycle

Yes, there is somewhat more we could recover/recycle

Yes, there is a small amount more we could recover/recycle

No, we recover/recycle everything we possible can

No, it is not possible to recover the types of waste we generate

No, not interested in waste recovery/recycling as too time consuming/costly

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* 6. Will the proposed commercial waste levy of $35 per tonne (which equates to approx. $5/cubic metre) encourage you to change your waste management behaviours e.g. recycle and reuse more, avoid/reduce waste through supply chains, reduce rubbish sent to landfill?

Yes

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* 7. Would you support the introduction of a government funded Business Waste Audit program to assist your business to identify opportunities to reduce/recover waste and save on waste management costs?

Yes

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* 1. To help us estimate the volume of waste your business generates, please indicate the size and number of bin/s used for mixed general waste at your business premise?

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* 2. How often are your general waste bins collected from your business premise?

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* 3. On average, how full is your bin at the time of collection?

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* 4. If your business currently recycles, reuses or recovers waste (i.e. does not dispose of it into general rubbish collection), please indicate what materials your business recycles, reuses or recovers:

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* 5. Do you believe your business currently recycles, reuses and recovers everything it possibly could and that there is capacity/potential to reduce the amount of waste your business sends to landfill?

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* 6. Will the proposed commercial waste levy of $35 per tonne (which equates to approx. $5/cubic metre) encourage you to change your waste management behaviours e.g. recycle and reuse more, avoid/reduce waste through supply chains, reduce rubbish sent to landfill?

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* 7. Would you support the introduction of a government funded Business Waste Audit program to assist your business to identify opportunities to reduce/recover waste and save on waste management costs?

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* 8. Finally, please provide any other comments or feedback on the Queensland Government's proposed Commercial Waste Levy.