Waste Collection Services Terms and Conditions

By participating in and receiving Council’s waste collection services, you agree to be bound by Council’s terms and conditions as amended from time to time. Council’s terms and conditions also comprise conditions of Council’s contracts with recycling and green waste service providers, as amended from time to time.

Collection point

Unless otherwise specified or agreed in writing by Council, the location for the collection of bins is to be the kerbside adjacent to each property (default collection point).

Alternative collection points

Council may establish an alternative collection point for placement of bins for collection, in circumstances where Council determines in its ultimate discretion that the default collection point does not allow safe and efficient waste collection operations.

Collection from a private road or property

Standard Council services are provided on public roads only. Collection from a private road or private property may be considered by Council in the following situations:

(i) Where extra assistance is required by elderly and infirm residents (medical evidence from residents will be required by Council prior to offering an on property collection service for eligible residents); or

(ii) Where Council agrees to its waste collection vehicles accessing a private road or vehicular area on private property to access a collection point (noting that internal roads must comply with road design requirements for Council’s waste collection vehicles).

In either of the cases above, Council will require the specific agreement of its waste and recycling contractor. Council will also require documentation from the property owner to indemnify Council and its contractor from any liabilities, losses, damage and other costs that may be caused to private property during the collection process. Each affected property owner must on request, enter into a Deed of Licence, Indemnity & Release with Council and its Contractors.

Council may refuse to provide waste collection services to a private road or property, or to change the collection point to a public road, where a property owner does not enter into Council’s Deed of Licence, Indemnity and Release within a specified period of time.

Bin weight limits

The maximum weight of any bin must not exceed 80 kilograms. Council or its Contractors will not collect bins which exceed this limit. Council reserves the right to alter this weight limit from time to time in particular circumstances where this weight limit does not allow safe and efficient waste collection operations.

Service location

Bins, including those approved for additional services, must only be used at the property address given in Council’s Waste Services Application Form, as submitted to Council.

Bin presentation

Bins are to be left out on the kerb by 5.30am on the collection day. Bins must be spaced at least a metre apart and lids must be fully closed. The minimum space allowed between bins is 300mm and applies only to properties where multiple bins are placed out for collection along a space-constrained kerb.

Bulk waste collection

Council provides a bulk waste collection service to residential properties twice a year for up to two cubic metres (one box trailer load) of combined waste material per household. Waste material can be placed out for collection on the weekend prior to the date of the next scheduled collection. Information on what materials can be included in the bulk waste collection service can be found in the bulk waste section of Council’s website. Council reserves the right to refuse collection of any Hazardous Waste including but not limited to asbestos, batteries, paints, chemicals, gas bottles, and electronic waste. Council reserves the right to suspend or cancel the service at its sole discretion where ongoing misuse occurs.

Service charge - additional services

Council's additional waste service(s) are charged in accordance with Lake Macquarie City Council's Fees and Charges. Upon submitting Council’s Waste Services Application Form, the property owner will be charged for any additional services requested on a pro-rata basis for the remainder of the current financial year. The charge will be included in an amended rates notice issued to the property owner. Thereafter, Council will issue an annual charge in accordance with the Pricing Policy at the commencement of each financial year and payable as part of the rates notice. If payment for the additional waste service(s) is not received by Council within a reasonable time as determined by Council in its ultimate discretion, Council reserves the right to cease the additional service(s) and instruct its Contractors to remove the additional recycling and green waste bin(s) from the property.

Minimum service period - additional services

The minimum service period for additional waste services provided by Council is one (1) year. If a property owner or occupier of the land requires a service to change or cease within a year of commencement due to extraordinary circumstances, the property owner of the land can request in writing to have the service charge for the remainder of the minimum service period waived. Council will consider such requests on their merits and is under no obligation to waive the minimum service charge. The applicant should address the request to: Senior Waste Officer, Lake Macquarie City Council, Box 1906 HRMC NSW 2310.

Recycling bin swaps

A property owner can swap any existing 240 litre recycling bin to a larger 360 litre bin, or any existing 140 litre recycling bin to a larger 240 litre bin, by applying online or contacting Council. A one-off fee applies which is payable at the time of application. It may take up to eight weeks after an application is received for your bin to be swapped.

Green waste and recycling bins

Green waste and recycling bins provided as part of Council's waste service(s) remain the property of Council's approved Contractors. Replacement or repair costs for bins damaged by Council or its Contractors, are the responsibility of Council. All other repair or replacement costs will be the responsibility of the property owner or occupier of the land. Council or its Contractors may at the Council or Contractor’s discretion, remove vandalised or inappropriately used bins. Council and its Contractors reserve the right to refuse collection of any green waste or recycling bin other than that provided by the Contractor.

Garbage bins

Garbage bin(s) used as part of Council’s waste service are the property of the home or business owner. Any damage caused to the garbage bin(s) by Council will be repaired in accordance with Council’s Repair or replacement of damaged mobile garbage bins policy(PDF, 539KB). All other repair or replacement costs will be the responsibility of the property owner or occupier of the land. Information on what materials can be included in the general waste bin can be found in the garbage bin section of Council’s website. Council reserves the right to refuse collection of any garbage bin that contains Hazardous Waste including but not limited to asbestos, batteries, paints, chemicals, gas bottles, and electronic waste. Where ongoing contamination or misuse occurs, Council reserves the right to suspend or cancel the service at its sole discretion.

Bin sizes

Council and its Contractors will only collect and supply mobile bins with the dimensions provided in the table below. Some multi-unit dwellings and businesses may be eligible to receive collections in larger mobile bins. Council and its Contractors reserve the right to determine a property’s eligibility to receive provision of larger mobile waste bins at its sole discretion.

Green waste and recyclables contamination

Council and its Contractors have zero tolerance for contamination in green waste and recycling bins. Information on what materials can be included in the green waste bin can be found in the green waste section of Council's website. Information on what can be included in the recycle bin can be found in the recycling section of Council’s website. Both Council and its Contractors reserve the right to refuse collection of any green waste or recycling bins which do not comply with these requirements. Where ongoing contamination or misuse occurs, Council and/or its Contractors reserve the right to suspend or cancel the service(s) at its sole discretion and remove the offending bin(s) from the property.

Rejected bins

Council and its Contractors will not collect any dangerous, hazardous or illegal substance or materials, incorrectly sized or overweight bins, unauthorised bins, materials not placed inside bins, or bins containing contaminated material.

When a bin is not collected for any of the above reasons the property owner or occupier of the land will be given notice by way of a letter or by placement of a sticker on the bin, specifying the problem and advising that they can contact Council to receive more detailed information. Where noncompliance is ongoing, Council and its Contractors reserve the right to suspend or cancel the services as their sole discretion and remove the offending bin(s) from the property.

Cessation of services

All residential premises, and participating commercial premises, will be provided with Council’s waste collection services unless there are special circumstances that Council deems sufficient to suspend or cancel these services, including but not limited to repeated contamination incidents, or if the property is vacant for a period of time. Council reserves the right to direct its Contractor to cease services to the premise(s) concerned where the property owner or occupier of the land has not complied with Council’s or the Contractor’s written requests.

Changes and cancellations

Notwithstanding the above, the property owner can arrange for a service cancellation, an additional service, or any changes by completing Council’s Waste Services Application Form at any time, subject to Council’s terms and conditions.

Privacy

Council may provide the information contained within a Waste Services Application Form to Council’s approved garbage, green waste and recycling service Contractors as required and no other third party. Council will use the information contained in the application form only for the purpose of administering and managing waste services provided to the property concerned.