Northern Beaches Council is proposing new waste charges that will give many households the chance to save money and reduce their impact on the environment.

The proposed Domestic Waste Charge for 2019/20 is being released ahead of the new waste contract starting 1 July, which replaces decade-old waste contracts which are about to expire.

Mayor Michael Regan said Council was able to save $2.7million/year under the new waste collection contract and reinvest this into improved waste processing services that will deliver better environment outcomes.

He said many residents would also see significant decreases in their waste charges next financial year, made possible by the introduction of a standard service across the Northern Beaches.

“In the face of rising processing costs for collection, disposal and now also recycling, we are still providing a high quality, value for money service to residents,” Mayor Regan said.

“The three former Council areas all experienced different service levels, different quality services and attracted different charges.

“The expiration of the former 10-year waste contracts has given us a fantastic opportunity to get the best new service for all our residents.

“We have been able to deliver significant savings for many Northern Beaches households via the new standard service. We have also kept prices down for those who are currently paying our lowest waste disposal rates. For those residents who want a more customised service, we have created options to meet individual needs on a user pays basis.

“The fees for the standard and customised services will be confirmed as part of the budget process, including being put on public exhibition as part of the usual budget process for 2019/20.

“The proposed charges are on par or less than most other comparable Sydney councils.

“I am pleased that as a Council we have been able to achieve so much with the new service and still keep costs down for our residents.

“We are upping our efforts on the war on waste – recovering recyclables from our waste stream, including the red lid bin, to achieve the NSW State Government’s 70% diversion from landfill target.

“We continue to protect our high level green waste service, all of which is re-used in commercial applications.”