Zone one rubbish collection

Consultation has concluded


Council consulted the community in April - May 2024 on how rubbish collection in Zone One will be delivered and funded from 1 July 2025.

Council proposed changes to how rubbish collection services are delivered and funded in Zone One from 1 July 2025. There were four options to consider through the consultation.

  • Option 1 - Status Quo - Private sector provides a weekly pre-paid bag and wheelie bin collection via Pay As You Throw. Contractor sets pricing and charges for the service.
  • Option 2 – Private sector provides a fortnightly wheelie bin collection via Pay As You Throw. Contractor sets pricing and charges for the service.
  • Option 3 – Council, through a private contractor provides a fortnightly wheelie bin collection with a single 120 litre bin size, Pay As You Throw. Council sets pricing and charges for the service.
  • Option 4 – Council, through a private contractor provides a fortnightly wheelie bin collection with several different bin size options, i.e. 80 litres, 120 litres or 240 litres. Council sets rate for each bin size and charges via targeted rate.

This proposal applied only to the rubbish collection service in Zone One. The current waste services offered in Zones Two and Three were not proposed to change.

The options did not include the current recycling rate of $178,—incl GST as of the 2023/24 financial year. The recycling rate will continue to be in addition to the cost of the rubbish collection.

What was the outcome of the consultation?

The consultation closed on 20 May, and staff consolidated the submissions for the hearings in June. During the hearings, some residents spoke to elected members about their submissions. After the hearings, Council discussed the proposal during the deliberations in June.

Councillors approved Option 3, which involves implementing a fortnightly rubbish wheelie bin collection in Zone One funded through a Pay as You Throw model.

Further development

In April 2025, Council re-extended the waste management contract with Smart Environmental for one year, until 30 June 2026.

In September 2024, Council went to the open market seeking proposals from waste management companies interested in providing waste management for the next ten years, starting from 1 July 2025.

Three proposals from tenderers were received and evaluated. Following the evaluation, further operational risks were identified, resulting in Council deciding to review the scope of services. Once the contract is reviewed and drafted, Council will complete the tender process. Due to the timeline required to work through this, the current waste management services contract was extended by a further 12 months to 30 June 2026.

Therefore, residents in Zone one will continue to use the 60-litre pre-paid rubbish bags which are collected weekly, until 30 June 2026. No wheelie bins will be issued until the new scope of services is agreed on.

Council reconsidered the course for the future of rubbish collection and decided to move to a rubbish collection service paid through a targeted rate in Zone 1.

Starting from 1 July 2026, owners of properties eligible for rubbish collection will have the choice between a 80L, 120L or a 240L wheelie bin, or they can opt to drop off their rubbish at the transfer stations and pay the per tonne charge. Alternatively, they can arrange a private collection service with a commercial operator.


Council consulted the community in April - May 2024 on how rubbish collection in Zone One will be delivered and funded from 1 July 2025.

Council proposed changes to how rubbish collection services are delivered and funded in Zone One from 1 July 2025. There were four options to consider through the consultation.

  • Option 1 - Status Quo - Private sector provides a weekly pre-paid bag and wheelie bin collection via Pay As You Throw. Contractor sets pricing and charges for the service.
  • Option 2 – Private sector provides a fortnightly wheelie bin collection via Pay As You Throw. Contractor sets pricing and charges for the service.
  • Option 3 – Council, through a private contractor provides a fortnightly wheelie bin collection with a single 120 litre bin size, Pay As You Throw. Council sets pricing and charges for the service.
  • Option 4 – Council, through a private contractor provides a fortnightly wheelie bin collection with several different bin size options, i.e. 80 litres, 120 litres or 240 litres. Council sets rate for each bin size and charges via targeted rate.

This proposal applied only to the rubbish collection service in Zone One. The current waste services offered in Zones Two and Three were not proposed to change.

The options did not include the current recycling rate of $178,—incl GST as of the 2023/24 financial year. The recycling rate will continue to be in addition to the cost of the rubbish collection.

What was the outcome of the consultation?

The consultation closed on 20 May, and staff consolidated the submissions for the hearings in June. During the hearings, some residents spoke to elected members about their submissions. After the hearings, Council discussed the proposal during the deliberations in June.

Councillors approved Option 3, which involves implementing a fortnightly rubbish wheelie bin collection in Zone One funded through a Pay as You Throw model.

Further development

In April 2025, Council re-extended the waste management contract with Smart Environmental for one year, until 30 June 2026.

In September 2024, Council went to the open market seeking proposals from waste management companies interested in providing waste management for the next ten years, starting from 1 July 2025.

Three proposals from tenderers were received and evaluated. Following the evaluation, further operational risks were identified, resulting in Council deciding to review the scope of services. Once the contract is reviewed and drafted, Council will complete the tender process. Due to the timeline required to work through this, the current waste management services contract was extended by a further 12 months to 30 June 2026.

Therefore, residents in Zone one will continue to use the 60-litre pre-paid rubbish bags which are collected weekly, until 30 June 2026. No wheelie bins will be issued until the new scope of services is agreed on.

Council reconsidered the course for the future of rubbish collection and decided to move to a rubbish collection service paid through a targeted rate in Zone 1.

Starting from 1 July 2026, owners of properties eligible for rubbish collection will have the choice between a 80L, 120L or a 240L wheelie bin, or they can opt to drop off their rubbish at the transfer stations and pay the per tonne charge. Alternatively, they can arrange a private collection service with a commercial operator.

Consultation has concluded