Landfill levies are recognised as the primary economic tool for diverting waste from landfill to higher and better uses.
Levies currently operate in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland and in 2019-20 they raised an estimated $1.54 billion.90
Levy revenues have funded waste and recycling initiatives. They have also supported the development of local resource recovery businesses such as processing facilities, alternate waste treatment plants and material recovery facilities.91
However, not all states and territories have transparent levy regimes that show how the landfill levy revenues were used.92