CEO STATEMENT

Clarification on the Domestic Waste Service Review

Jane Stroud, Chief Executive Officer, Kiama Municipal Council 

Following last night’s Council meeting, I want to provide some clear information to our community about where things stand with the ongoing Domestic Waste Service Review. 

1. First and most importantly: nothing is changing today 

Your bin collections remain exactly the same today as they were yesterday. 

No service changes will occur until a full community consultation process is completed. 
We have allowed at least six months before any operational changes to collections, and up to three years for some of the more complex service adjustments. 

Yes, in time we will move to a fortnightly yellow-lid recycling collection, and we will adjust our collection zones. But these changes will not happen quickly, and they will not happen without community input. 

2. Why are changes being considered? 

Quite simply — the way we collect waste today is not as efficient as it could be. 

Our data shows: 

• Many weekly yellow bins are not full when presented. 

• Some are not presented at all. 

• Certain collection zones have too few bins on some days and too many on others. 

If we’re collecting too little or too much on a given route, it increases costs and reduces efficiency. We need to make sure our routes and services reflect how Kiama has grown and changed. 

This is sensible, responsible planning. 

3. No outsourcing is being considered

There have been incorrect statements circulating in the community about outsourcing. 

Let me set the record straight. 

Council is not outsourcing domestic waste services. Full stop. 

Suggestions that Remondis or any other operator is taking over are simply wrong. 
There are many good operators in the industry, but we deliver our own waste services — and we intend to keep it that way. 

Our Waste Services team plays a fundamental role for our community, and that is not changing. 

4. Rising costs, environmental rules and good governance are driving this review 

Every council in NSW is facing higher processing fees, annual increases to the EPA landfill levy, which applies to all waste sent to landfill from the red bin and forms part of the gate fee at Dunmore.

It has been more than 10 years since our waste collection zones were reviewed. Our towns have grown and practices have changed. 

This review is part of our obligation to manage public funds responsibly and transparently. 

We want to bring the community on the journey — to explain how, why and when changes will occur. 

5. Minnamurra is not a landfill — and hasn’t been for nearly 20 years  

Every single waste stream collected in Kiama — red, yellow and green bins — is already transported out of the LGA for processing. 

Kiama does not process any FOGO, recycling or landfill on site. 

The Minnamurra facility stopped receiving general waste in 2006, when the landfill cell was capped. Since then, it has only operated as a small transfer point for specific materials. 

Understanding this is important: we are not closing a functioning landfill, because Kiama hasn’t had one for almost two decades. 

6. Waste contracts are commercial-in-confidence — and must remain that way

This is not secrecy — it is legal and common practice. 

Just like any resident taking a trailer to a commercial tip pays a price for green waste, recyclables or landfill, Council also pays a price per tonne for each waste stream. 

Because we manage large amounts of waste, these prices are set through competitive tenders. 

Commercial pricing is always confidential — that is the law — and it cannot be included in public business papers. 

We handle that information confidentially, as we are required to do.