All government agencies now have to conform to marketing, budgeting and business models, much as private business does.

The Kangaroo Island Council has voted on and implemented a policy so that all ratepayers contribute to waste management on the island.

It is good practice and makes sense on all levels for an island which prides itself – and markets itself - on its pristine environment for our waste management to exceed accepted standards and set a benchmark for other communities.

Therefore, even those who have no regular rubbish collection, such as vacant land-holders and off-island ratepayers, are compelled to pay for the island’s waste management through their rates notices.

They pay a concessional rate.

The Department for Environment and Heritage should be no exception.

It pays the waste management charge where it has bins collected but is not paying it on its vacant land as other ratepayers do.

True, it has many vacant land assessments. It owes the Kangaroo Island Council more than $100,000 in these unpaid waste management charges.

The council considers it unsound finances to fight an expensive legal battle against the State over this matter.

DEH should pay up. It is among those for whom a clean island with responsible waste management is essential to its marketing success and it benefits directly from the council’s waste management efforts.