Following on from an article in the Review last week about rubbish dumping in the Mitchell Shire, Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has raised concerns over increases to the waste levy announced in this year’s State Budget, saying it will add even more barriers for the disposal of rubbish in regional communities.
The State Government will raise the metropolitan industrial and municipal waste levy by $40 to $167.9 a tonne from July 1, 2025, as well as making increases at rural landfills.
Ms Cleeland says her office has heard from several constituents about an uptick in rubbish being dumped along roadsides and outside properties, as well as issues accessing landfills across the electorate.
“We need to be making it easier and safer to dispose of rubbish in our regional communities, not harder,” she said.
“While reducing landfill waste might be a priority in the city, our waste needs to go somewhere.
“As things stand, we are hearing of rubbish piling up on roadsides and a lack of urgency to clean it up by those responsible.
“There have been cases of people breaking into landfills just to dispose of waste, something that this levy increase will only make more prevalent if allowed to stay in place.”
Ms Cleeland raised concerns about the levy to the Minister for the Environment during Parliament’s last sitting week.
