Rhoades: Waste Levy is rubbish

A high percentage of the Coffs Coast’s waste is recycled but rising waste charges are causing financial pain for residents.

Poll

Whose fault is the rising cost of fees at the local tip?

This poll ended on 24 February 2012.

State Government

37%

Local Council

62%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

COFFS Harbour Mayor Keith Rhoades claims ratepayers are confused by the rise in costs to use the local tip.

Cr Rhoades said an increase in the Waste Levy imposed by the NSW Government is the reason behind both the recent and upcoming rise in waste management costs.

He said the levy has caused confusion for ratepayers with many blaming the councils for the increase without understanding the NSW Government's role.

The levy, which is currently $31.10 per tonne, will increase to around $42 per tonne on July 1.

Cr Rhoades is one of the mayors from a Mid North Coast Group of Councils (MIDGOC) that proposes to lodge their formal objection to the Waste Levy imposed by the NSW Government at a meeting this week with NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker.

The Waste Levy was introduced in the early 1990s and currently provides the State Government with around $368 million in taxes.

With plans to increase the levy, MIDGOC members are incensed that the government has continually failed to provide details of the distribution of funds to waste education and recycling initiatives.

"It is estimated the councils in MIDGOC will pay a collective levy of $5 million this year and obviously more when it increases next year," Cr Rhoades said.

"This is a significant injection into state funding and on behalf of our communities we have a right to know what it's being spent on."