Waste levy
A waste levy is payable to the EPA on solid or liquid waste disposed of by landfilling, incineration or via liquid waste depot (ie disposal at licensed waste disposal depots under the Environment Protection Act 1993).
The waste levy aims to incentivise resource recovery by increasing the costs of waste disposal, making resource recovery more financially viable by comparison.
The waste levy is paid to the EPA by waste disposal depots on waste disposed of on their site (eg by landfilling). Where waste disposal depots also undertake a resource recovery process on site, no levy is paid on the recovered material (see diagram below).
Other types of waste depots, such as resource recovery facilities that do not undertake disposal on site, are not required to pay the levy to the EPA. The waste levy is payable only on residual wastes from resource recovery processes when they are disposed of at a waste disposal depot.
Some waste depots undertake resource recovery and landfilling on the same site and the above applies to the different parts of the business.
Waste levy rates vary depending on whether the waste is collected within metropolitan Adelaide (metro) or outside its boundary (non-metro). Refer to map which shows the Adelaide metropolitan boundary.
Changes to how the waste levy is collected from landfills commenced on 1 December 2021. As a result of these changes, landfills must have an approved operational use declaration from the EPA to use waste or waste-derived materials on site. The waste levy is payable (as directed by the EPA) in respect of unapproved operational use and unauthorised stockpiling at landfills (please see the below drop down menu for further information).
For detailed information on when the levy is payable, including measuring and reporting requirements, please refer to the Environment Protection Regulations 2023 and the Waste levy and approved operational use guideline (2024).
Waste levy monthly returns are to be submitted via the Environment Licensing Forms (ELF). Please see the following user guides for further information on submitting monthly returns:
Waste levy rates 2024–25
Waste levy rates received at the depot from 1 July 2024
| 1 July 2024–30 June 2025 |
Rates |
| Metropolitan solid waste (per tonne disposed) |
$161 |
| Non-metropolitan solid waste(per tonne disposed) |
$80.50 |
| Liquid waste (per kilolitre disposed) |
$43.75 |
Record keeping and survey requirements for landfills
Mass balance reporting (MBR) requirements came into effect on 1 July 2021.
MBR requires waste facilities receiving over 20,000 tonnes of solid waste per annum (or otherwise directed) to report to the EPA on material flows at their site on a monthly basis.
Only landfills receiving over 20,000 tonnes of solid waste per annum are required to undertake mass balance reporting.
However, amendments to the Environment Protection Regulations from 1 July 2021 also require new record keeping and whole-of-site survey requirements for landfills.
Record keeping requirements
Regulations 85, 86 and 91 specify record keeping requirements which apply to all landfills (excluding councils reporting using the population formula under regulation 82).
Summary of record keeping requirements
Whole-of-site survey requirements
New regulation 80 specifies requirements for whole-of-site surveys for landfills disposing of 10,000 tonnes of solid waste per annum.
Previous requirements to provide an annual survey of the landfill cell have been updated to require an annual whole-of-site survey.
Section 5 of the Waste reporting, record keeping and measurement standard outlines detailed requirements for the survey.
Please see the MBR webpage for more information.
Application for an approved operational use declaration
From 1 December 2021, the operational use of waste (including waste derived material) at landfills attracts the solid waste levy unless it is an approved operational use.
Applications for approved operational use declarations for your site can be made via Environment Licensing Forms (ELF). The Operational use – ELF user guide provides detailed instruction for submitting applications.
Please ensure you include sufficient information with your application to demonstrate that the proposed operational use is necessary and suitable in accordance with regulation 70 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2023.
Changes to waste levy collection from 1 December 2021
Changes to how the waste levy is collected from landfills commenced on 1 December 2021.
These changes came into effect via amendments to the Environment Protection Regulations 2023 and clause 4 of the Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy 2010 through the following amendment legislation:
The Waste levy and approved operational use guideline (2024) has been developed to assist licensees in understanding their obligations relating to the waste levy in a helpful and accessible way, including new requirements effective from 1 December 2021.
Waste levy monthly return forms have also been updated on the Environment Licensing Forms (ELF) . The following user guides have been developed to assist licensees in submitting their monthly waste levy returns:
Overview
The changes to the Environment Protection Regulation ensures that the solid waste levy is collected in a fair and consistent manner and continues to drive positive resource recovery and environmental outcomes. The changes include:
- Daily cover – a 10% daily cover deduction on waste levy payments applies to landfills required to use daily cover under EPA licence (see 'Further information' below).
- Waste fill – the $0 levy on waste fill has been removed, meaning the full applicable solid waste levy rate applies to disposal of waste fill.
- Operational use – operational use of waste at waste disposal facilities attracts the solid waste levy unless it is an approved operational use (see 'Further information' below).
- Stockpiles – stockpiling at waste disposal facilities which is in contravention of EPA licence conditions attracts the solid waste levy.
- Penalties – lower penalties will be prescribed for default on waste levy payments which are self-reported by the licensee to the EPA, or where the EPA is satisfied that all reasonable and practicable measures were taken to prevent the default from occurring.
Waste fill and daily cover
From 1 December 2021, the $0 levy on waste fill has been removed, and the applicable metropolitan or non-metropolitan solid waste levy rate applied instead.
This has been replaced with a 10% daily cover deduction. The deduction will be applied to the total levy payment (which includes daily cover material) where licensees are required to use daily cover by condition of licence.
From 1 December 2021, licencees must include all waste fill disposed of or used as daily cover in your monthly waste levy return as either metropolitan or non-metropolitan solid waste.
Licencess must include waste fill in their levy return when it is disposed of or moved to the landfill cell for use as daily cover (as either solid metro or non-metro waste). This includes any waste fill you already have stockpiled on the site.
Waste fill should not include waste fill in the monthly levy return when it is received for stockpiling or when it is used for an operational purpose, such as capping or internal roads.
If daily cover is required by licence condition, the 10% daily cover deduction will be automatically calculated and applied when the monthly levy return is submitted.
It is noted that there are no changes being made in relation to use of on-site excavated soil. This can continue to be used as cover without being reported in monthly levy returns.
Approved operational use
From 1 December 2021 the operational use of waste (including waste-derived material) at landfills attracts the solid waste levy unless it is an approved operational use.
Operational uses requiring approval include the use of any waste or waste-derived materials received at the landfill and used within the landfill site for operational needs. Examples include capping, interim cover, screening mounds, internal and perimeter roads.
It does not include material while it is being stockpiled, material used for daily cover (as that is subject to a separate deduction as outlined earlier), or use of material which has not been received at the site (such as on-site excavated soil).
Operational use approvals are for the purposes of establishing levy liability on levyable waste and will reflect uses permitted to occur under licence.
Operational uses are approved via site-specific approved operational use declarations.
Please see the drop down menu above for information on how to make an application for an approved operational use declaration.
Asbestos
Since 1 July 2017, no levy applies to the disposal of asbestos.
| Asbestos levy |
Ongoing |
| Metropolitan Adelaide |
$0/tonne |
| Non-metropolitan |
$0/tonne |
The levy waiver for asbestos is in place on an ongoing basis. It applies to asbestos waste that is packaged and disposed in accordance with:
- Chapter 8 of the Work, Health and Safety Regulations 2012, or
- Requirements for lawful unlicensed removalists.
'Asbestos waste’ is defined in the Work, Health and Safety Regulations 2021 to mean:
- asbestos
- material containing asbestos as part of its design, and
- disposable items used during asbestos removal work including plastic sheeting and disposable tools.
Service providers may still charge a fee for asbestos waste disposal to cover their operating costs.
The waiver does not include asbestos-contaminated soil.
Engineered stone
From 1 July 2024–30 June 2025, no levy will apply to the disposal of engineered stone benchtops, slabs and panels, and silica dust (wrapped in plastic, preferably of thickness greater than 200 microns or in sealed containers).
From 1 July 2024, a prohibition on the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, slabs and panels will come into effect as a result of health concerns. The levy waiver aims to reduce costs for South Australian businesses who must dispose of existing engineered stone following commencement of the ban.
Levy for scrap metal recovery
A 25% reduced levy rate applies to the disposal of residual waste resulting from the shredding of scrap metal, known as ‘shredder floc’.
| Shredder floc levy |
1 July 2024–30 June 2025 |
| Metropolitan per tonne disposed |
$120.75 |
| Non-metropolitan per tonne disposed |
$60.38 |
The reduced levy rate applies only to shredder floc from facilities licensed as ‘scrap metal treatment works’ under the Environment Protection Act 1993.
The reduced levy rate is reviewed on an annual basis.
Flood waste
A levy waiver is currently in place for flood affected waste from properties registered with Green Industries SA affected by the 2022 River Murray high flow event. The levy waiver has been extended to 30 June 2025 to ensure amply opportunity for all flood-affected waste to be disposed of.
Levy for Charitable Recyclers Subsidy Program
Historic waste levy rates
Records of past waste levy rates are available on Data SA.
