FAQs

The Waste Management Policy provides guidance to staff and community on the administration of waste management services and charges. The Policy is a pre-existing document that has now been updated to reflect the transition to food and garden organics (FOGO).

The Waste Management Policy is being updated to reflect the Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2026-31 and talks about how Council will manage putting the Strategy into practice.

The Policy has been updated to include the transition to food and garden organics (FOGO) with the weekly collection of FOGO bins, delivery of replacement caddies and ongoing yearly delivery of liners to households. As well as to introduce an option for discounted fortnightly red bin collection and establish procedures for managing misuse of waste contamination. 

There have also been updates to the waste voucher system. Based on community feedback requested in the Community Waste Survey in October 2024, mattresses can now be included on resource recovery vouchers.

No, there are no proposed changes that you have not already heard about. 

Council has no plans to change general waste (red bin) services.

There is an option for you as a resident to opt-in for a fortnightly general waste collection (red bin), or 26 collections per year. 

For residents who opt-in to reduce their current weekly general waste collection to fortnightly there will be a discounted fee in accordance with Council’s adopted Fees and Charges.

No, Council regularly checks-in with what the community’s waste needs are. 

Council conducts a community waste survey every two years to understand the community’s waste and resource recovery needs. 

Council also undertakes bin audits every two years to provide data for service improvement.

Not yet.

We understand the community would like the choice of a voucher to be used at the Cessnock Waste Management Centre or for bulk waste to be picked up at your house. Just under 1400 community members participated in our last Waste Strategy Community Survey in October 2024, where the community preference was for the choice of a voucher or kerbside collection. 

At the moment Council still operates a voucher only model, however it is an action item in the Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2026-31 to increase the options for bulk waste disposal such as kerbside collection. The timeframe for this is 2027- 2031.

Visit Council’s homepage to understand more about waste vouchers here.

Waste and resource recovery vouchers are available to property owners with a domestic waste service electronically through Council’s WasteApp and via Council’s website.

The updated Waste Management Policy also includes an update that vouchers will now be available for tenants of properties, and vouchers are no longer sent out with rates notices but can be requested through the WasteApp or Council’s website. Visit Council’s website to request your vouchers here.

Your food and garden organics bin has a lime green lid, and is emptied weekly alongside your general waste (red) bin.

Please visit Council's website here for detailed question and answers on how to utilise the new FOGO service.

Delivery of a kitchen caddy & compostable liners to all households with a Council waste service has now been completed. This will help you move food waste from your kitchen to your food and garden organics bin. Remember to remove any packaging or fruit stickers first!

If your house did not receive a caddy & compostable liner kit please email your name and property address to: waste.admin@cessnock.nsw.gov.au and the team will be in touch to arrange.

Replacement liners will be available from October, free at particular pick up points in the LGA (to be advised). The initial rolls delivered contained 150 liners which is sufficient for the average household using 3 per week to last a year