PERCHED on the side of a hill and with sweeping views of the region, Allora’s waste facility with a view was officially opened yesterday.

The facility, which cost $1.45 million to build, is part of Southern Downs Regional Council’s ongoing program to close old landfills and promote environmentally friendly waste practices.

About $870,000 worth of funding came from the state government, but at yesterday’s opening Mayor Bellingham couldn’t hide his frustration with the Bligh body.

From December 1, as part of the Queensland government’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Strategy, an ‘industry waste levy’ will be introduced.

The levy will require all waste operators – namely local councils – to pay an additional charge when delivering industrial and commercial waste to a disposal facility.

Cr Bellingham said he “wasn’t real happy” with the rollout of the legislation.

“I expect it to create quite a large public dissent. The (new tax for commercial and industrial waste) will amount to about $35 per tonne,” he said.

Council has signed a full-time contractor for 12 months to man the Allora waste facility.

Waste will be disposed of in large bins and then transported to the Warwick Waste Transfer Facility where it can be recycled or further reduced by heavy crushers.

About 12 bins will be available for the recycling of paper and cardboard, plastic, aluminium and glass.

There is also a recycling shop where items can be purchased during opening hours.

Collection of green waste, scrap metal and Drummuster will continue to be accepted at the site.

Mayor Bellingham said the new facility put Southern Downs Regional Council at the forefront of environmentally friendly waste practices.

“I think it’s a great development and I’m asking the Allora community to continue their environmentally friendly waste habits by separating their recyclables from their waste,” he said.

The facility was designed by Duggan and Hede, Engineering and Environmental Consultants and constructed by Sedl Engineering of Toowoomba.

The new waste facility will open every day except Wednesday and Thursday from 8am to 5pm.