Requirements for operators in the levy zone

Welcome to the quick reference video showing How to submit and adjust summary returns in the Queensland Waste Data System.

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Upload and validate detailed data files

and

• Submit a summary return.

If you’re new to summary returns submissions, we recommend using the How to submit and adjust summary returns user guide which contains more detailed steps. This user guide can be found on the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation website by searching for ‘QWDS Training Materials.’

Now let’s begin.

We’ll start on the QWDS Home Page.

Under the Records section on the left side of your screen, select Summary Returns.

Next in the Summary Returns screen, your outstanding summary returns are automatically filtered by the Awaiting Return Status.

Select the reporting month link to upload your detailed data file. For this example, we’re using November 2025.

In the next screen, click the Manage Summary Return button.

In the Upload Detailed Data screen, you’ll see a Summary Return reference number has now been generated.

Under the Detailed Data section, check the box to certify your data is accurate and then click the Upload button to browse files on your computer.

Once the file has been located, double-click to upload the file.

After your file has been uploaded, click Validate.

Under the Validation Results and Site Details section, click Refresh to prompt the validation to complete. Larger detailed data files may take longer to complete.

If errors display after you’ve validated your detailed data file, then your validation has been unsuccessful, and the file has not uploaded. Click the link to export a list of validation errors, make the appropriate updates to you detailed data file and then click Retry to re-start the upload process.

However, if validation warnings are displayed, as they are here, or there are no warnings or errors then your detailed data validation has been successful, and the file has been uploaded.

If you cannot upload your detailed data file due to validation errors or you have concerns about your validation warnings, please contact your weighbridge software provider or QWDS support at QWDS dot enquiries @ DETSI dot qld dot gov dot au.

In this case, our detailed data file validation has been successful.

In the Upload Detailed Data screen under the Validation Results and Site Details section, only one site is displayed on the Site Details page. If you have multiple sites, click the links under Site Names or use the arrow keys at the bottom of the page to make sure you review all sites.

Please review each section for all sites, and, if you’re happy, click Next.

A pop-up message displays to remind you of the validation warnings, click No to display the warnings about the detailed data you’ve uploaded or, if you’re happy to progress, click OK to confirm.

In the Summary Return Review section, review the Total Levy amount and Reporting Summary by Site information.

There are also an optional comments field (up to 2000 characters) and ability to upload supporting documents, if you would like to submit additional information with your summary return.

If you wish to change your detailed data file after it has been successfully uploaded, but before you have submitted the Summary Return, you can click Cancel and then Withdraw Return in the General Information section.  This resets the Summary Return back to 'Awaiting Return' status.

To resubmit a detailed data file after submitting the Summary Return, you will need to perform a detailed data adjustment following the steps shown in the How to adjust summary returns video.

If you’re happy with your levy amount and reporting summary, check the Accept box to declare your Summary Return is true and correct and then click Submit.

Finally, you will receive a return has been successfully submitted message.

Click Finish to return to the QWDS Home page.

To view your finalised return, click Summary Return under the Records section and then filter by Finalised Return using the Status dropdown menu.

Your summary return entry now displays an updated Status of Finalised Return and populates the Land Fill Tonnes and Levy Liability columns with 53.50 tonnes and $6,687.50 respectively.

By clicking the Reporting Period link you can see more detail, and we’ll click the November 2025 link in this example.

In the General Information screen, you see more detailed information compared to the Summary Returns screen including the Return Status workflow which in this example displays Finalised Return.

The Detailed Data and Documents screen displays documents that have been uploaded in the Summary, including your detailed data file.

Check the download box and then click download to view and save any document to your local drives.

The Sites List screen displays the list of sites included in the summary return.

You can click each link to see each site's return details.

And finally, the Site Return Details displays the uploaded detailed data by site and zone.

On this screen, use the arrows at the bottom of the page for waste operators with multiple sites.

Thanks again for watching and if you’re interested in seeing other QWDS training materials, please go to the Department’s website and search for ‘QWDS Training Materials’ to see more training resources.

Welcome to the quick reference video showing How to adjust summary returns in the Queensland Waste Data System.

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to adjust summary returns.

If you’re new to summary return adjustments, we recommend using the How to submit and adjust summary returns user guide which contains more detailed steps. This user guide can be found on the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation website by searching for ‘QWDS Training Materials.’

Now let’s talk about submitting a detailed data adjustment.

Detailed data adjustment steps are similar to uploading your monthly detailed data file and submitting a summary return, except for an extra step where the department is required to assess whether to approve or decline the request.

Detailed data adjustment files can only be uploaded for single reporting period, for example November 2025. To submit adjustments across multiple reporting periods, please submit an adjustment file for each reporting period.

Let’s start a summary return adjustment now from the QWDS Home Page.

Under the Records section on the left side of your screen, select Summary Returns.

In the Summary Return screen, filter your status column by Finalised Return and select the reporting period line you wish to adjust. For this example, we’ll use the November 2025 reporting period.

In the Summary Return: General Information screen, click Manage Summary Return.

Then under the Upload Detailed Data screen in the Detailed data section, you’ll see the previously uploaded monthly detailed data file detailed documents.

To upload the adjusted file, check the box to certify your data is accurate and then click the Upload button to browse files on your computer and once located, double-click the file to upload.

Once the detailed data file has been uploaded, click Validate.

In the Validation Results and Site Details section, click refresh to complete file validation to see if the file has been accepted.

Please contact your weighbridge software provider or QWDS support using the email on the screen if you cannot upload your file due to errors or have any concerns about the validation warnings.

In this case, our detailed data file has successfully uploaded with warnings.

In the Validation Results and Site Details section, only one site is displayed on the Site Details page, so if you have multiple sites, click the links under Site Names or use the arrow keys at the bottom of the page to make sure you review all sites.

There is an additional Waste Operator Comments column available for you to add support text for each adjusted site detail. If any comments are added, click Save next to the relevant site link to ensure they are captured.

Once you’ve reviewed each section for all sites and you’re happy to progress, click Next.

A pop-up message displays to remind you of the validation warnings, click No to display the warnings about the detailed data you’ve uploaded or, if you’re happy to progress, click OK to confirm.

In the Summary Return Review section, review the Total Levy and Reporting Summary by Site segments.

There is an optional comments field and supporting documents upload available to submit additional information to support your summary return adjustments.

If you’re happy, check the Accept box to declare your summary return is true and correct and then click Submit.

Finally, a return has been successfully submitted message displays.

Click Finish to return to your Summary Return: General Information page.

Click Home and then click Summary Return to return to your Summary Return screen.

To track whether your adjustment has been accepted, search for your recent summary return submission by filtering the Status dropdown menu and select For Assessment. We’ll continue to use November 2025 in this example.

Once the department has assessed and finalised your adjustment request, you will be notified of the outcome and the Status field will be updated. There are three possible outcomes when the department reviews your adjustment request:

One, you are requested to supply additional information supporting the adjustment and / or revise the detailed data. In both cases, please search for your reporting status where the Status equals On Hold and then follow the instructions from step 1 to resubmit your detailed data adjustment

Two, the detailed data adjustment is accepted. In this case, the Status updates to Finalised Adjustment and QWDS will either issue an invoice for the new balance owing or a credit will be applied to a subsequent summary return.

Three, the detailed data adjustment is declined.

Please ensure your detailed data adjustments are submitted by the original summary return’s due date to minimise interest penalties.

In this module you have learnt How to adjust a summary return.

Thanks again for watching and if you’re interested in seeing other QWDS training materials, please go to the Department’s website and search for ‘QWDS Training Materials’ to see more training resources.