Questions asked about landfill levy use
Greater Shepparton City Council claims the Environment Protection Authority landfill levy is putting pressure on delivering a quality service, and is questioning the value being returned. The council’s works and waste manager Heinz Kausche said the council had been trying to keep costs down, making sure council waste management was affordable and accessible for the community. Darebin Council is looking at withholding payment of the state landfill levy. ‘‘That becomes difficult when we also have to cover the cost of the EPA levy,’’ Mr Kausche said. ‘‘And recently we haven’t had anything back to help manage waste from that levy.’’ During the past five years the council has paid about $1.5million each year in levies. Victoria’s peak body for councils has recently been vocal in questioning the levy. Following the state budget, it had asked whether ‘‘the government is draining landfill levy revenue to pay for projects unrelated to waste reduction or recycling’’. Municipal...