We're committed to protecting our environment and creating a better lifestyle for every Queenslander, now and in the future.
That's why we are working to reduce waste and boost recycling...
Because too much waste is going to landfill and not enough is being recycled.
The new Queensland Waste Strategy aims to make recycling easier, invest in the recycling infrastructure we need and create strong markets for recycled materials.
Every Queenslander has a role to play. Every action counts.
Find out more about our vision for a Queensland with less landfill and more recycling.
The Queensland Government is committed to protecting our environment and creating a better lifestyle for every Queenslander, now and in the future. That’s why we must boost our recycling rate.
By 2035, there will be less waste to landfill and Queensland’s overall recycling rate will be 65%
Too much is going to landfill and not enough is being recycled. The Less Landfill, More Recycling 2035: Queensland Waste Strategy aims to achieve an overall 65 per cent recycling rate and cut waste to landfill by 2.6 million tonnes by 2035.
The strategy is a practical, ambitious plan focused on making recycling easier for households and businesses, investing in modern infrastructure, building stronger markets for recycled materials and tackling priority wastes including organics, plastics, batteries, mattresses, e-waste (including solar panels), textiles and tyres.
We’re committed to making sure every region in this state has the tools to succeed.
We’re investing in the right infrastructure across Queensland, so that we can unlock billions in economic potential and create thousands of future jobs – from cutting edge recycling technologies to local manufacturing using recycled materials.
Every Queenslander has a role to play. From big industry to the family sorting their bins, every action counts.
We’re focused on getting more out of the red lid and into the yellow-lid and green-lid bins because every item we divert from landfill saves money, cuts emissions and creates economic opportunity.
Find out what’s in the waste strategy for Queensland households, councils and industry.
- More kerbside recycling for households across Queensland (yellow and green bins).
- Programs to help avoid waste.
- Consistent messaging about what to put in red, yellow and green-lid bins.
- Statewide education and awareness activities linked to your local service availability and infrastructure.
- Increased confidence about recycling and reducing waste.
- Targeted awareness programs on priority wastes such as batteries.
- An improved Container refund scheme that, ensures more money goes back into the pockets of individuals and communities that actively participate and ensures local recycling opportunities are prioritised (instead of being sold overseas).
- Electricity being fed back into the grid through energy from waste initiatives.
- Employment opportunities through new waste and recycling products and industries.
- Cost of living benefits – the average household could save $2500 each year by reducing their food waste.
- Reduced environmental impacts such as odour, land and groundwater contamination and reduced emissions as we reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
- Regionally tailored targets designed to address the unique needs of every Queensland community.
- Investment in modern recycling infrastructure guided by a statewide infrastructure plan.
- New funding to support councils
- invest in the infrastructure they need to reduce waste to landfill and boost recycling, including energy from waste solutions
- deliver education and awareness programs to help make recycling easier for Queenslanders
- help address regional recycling transport challenges.
- Funding of $488 million over four years to help offset levy costs to households.
- Investment in modern recycling infrastructure guided by a statewide infrastructure plan.
- Support for energy from waste solutions.
- Greater use of recycled content where it meets specifications and does not increase costs.
- Employment opportunities through new waste and recycling products and industries.
- Levy settings that help unlock private investment and incentivise recycling.
- New funding programs to support new waste technologies and innovation, address regional transport challenges and education programs to reduce contamination and build trust in recycling.
To keep up-to-date with the latest news about waste and resource recovery news, subscribe to the WASTENOTes newsletter.
Making recycling easy
We want to make recycling easy for Queenslanders in everyday life. If we want to lift Queensland’s recycling rate, we have to make it simple.
Investing in modern infrastructure
We want to invest in modern infrastructure to turn waste into new products. Targeted investment in recycling infrastructure isn’t only about managing waste, it’s about creating economic opportunity.
Establishing strong end markets
We want to establish strong end markets where recycled materials are cost-effective and meet performance standards.
Accelerated action on priority wastes
Identifying priority wastes helps us focus our efforts and take accelerated action on those wastes that are particularly problematic.
Waste and recycling in Queensland
Queenslanders are the second-worst recyclers in the nation, generating nearly 10 million tonnes of waste annually – or about one million garbage trucks. Too much is going to landfill and not enough is being recycled. If we do nothing, landfill costs will rise, illegal dumping will increase, and Queensland will miss out on billions in economic opportunity.
10 million tonnes of waste generated in Queensland each year
12,000 jobs supported by the recycling and resource recovery industries
$1.5 billion contributed to the Queensland economy each year
Targets
To track our progress, we have set a range of targets to ensure we achieve the goals of our new strategy. While there has been positive progress in some areas, there is a need to accelerate progress in others. This includes household recycling rates, which have declined during the past decade from 32 per cent in 2015 to 28 per cent in 2024-25, and make up the bulk of landfill.
Less landfill
Statewide: 65% reduction in waste to landfill over the next decade
South-east Queensland: 70% reduction in waste to landfill over the next decade
Major regional communities: 50% reduction in waste to landfill over the next decade
More recycling
60% overall recycling rate across household waste
88% overall recycling rate across construction and demolition waste
60% overall recycling rate across commercial and industrial waste
Waste levy review
Learn more about the new waste levy review key changes to provide greater certainty for industry and councils, allowing them to plan and invest.
Funding and grants
The strategy is backed by more than $487 million over five years through the Waste Reduction and Recycling Activation Fund.
Consultation process
Consultation on a draft new Queensland Waste Strategy was undertaken in May and June 2025. Feedback received during the consultation informed the development of the final strategy. A summary of the consultation process undertaken can be found in the Queensland Waste Strategy 32 MB).
Resources for our partners
We've developed a suite of communication resources including assets for social media, web and newsletters to help raise awareness of the strategy.