The Queensland Government has developed the Queensland Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy. Together with the waste management levy, this strategy sets out a framework for Queensland to become a zero-waste society. The framework’s objective is to reuse and recycle as much waste as possible and is applicable to industry, state, and local governments.

Of the 77 local governments across the state, 74 operate landfill sites and recycling centres. Local governments face a range of financial and operational pressures to manage their waste, including diminishing landfill capacity, increased regulatory requirements (including environmental factors), and waste management levies.