Garbage rate set to rise
Garbage rates are expected to increase by about $40 with changes to the collection of household waste starting next July.
Under Pacific Waste's new waste contract with Gosford Council, garbage bins will be reduced by half to 120 litres with an option to pay more for a 240-litre bin option.
However, residents will also get a garden organics bin with a 240-litre capacity serviced fortnightly in urban areas.
The fortnightly recycle bin will remain.
In effect, residents will have the same amount of waste collected, an average of 360 litres per week, but with waste collection broken down into the extra garden waste component.
The option to retain the current "black bin" at its current 240 litre a week capacity will remain if wanted at an extra cost of $40 per year.
The recycle bins will also take a greater range of materials.
Council's director of development and the environment, Mr John Murray, said: "The inclusion of all paper and paper products in the recycling service will substantially lessen the quantity of domestic (black bin) waste for disposal.
"It is essential that council implement a differential charge for the 240-litre garbage bin (to) provide an incentive for residents to minimise their waste.," he said.
The current domestic waste service charge was $169.84 a year and Mr Murray said he anticipated this would rise to about $208 for the new three-bin system and $248 with the 240 black bin option.
Mr Murray said only households with more than five adults should need to use the 240-litre black bin option.
Carl Spears, December 6