Your Waste Service

Your Red-General Waste bin is emptied weekly unless you opt in to the fortnightly collection service.

The waste service is maintained by Council with the contents landfilled at Council’s Waste Management Centre. Some older bins may still have a dark green lid (the same colour as the body), which are progressively being phased out. If you have a green lid contact Customer Service 02 4993 4100 and request a new red lid.

Tips and Hints:

• Resist jamming or compacting waste into the bin as it may become stuck.
• See if anything can be recycled, re-purposed, or donated before you toss it.
• Avoid overflowing you bin (max 80kg).
• If you bin is broken or cracked, contact Council to arrange free repair or replacement.
• If smells are an issue, try placing a small amount of vinegar or eucalyptus/mint oil in the bottom of your bin.

Fortnightly Collection Options

If your general waste bin is often mostly empty, you can choose to opt in to a fortnightly collection instead. Under this option, your red bin will be collected every second week, alternating with your recycling bin, and a new sticker will be applied to clearly identify your bin as part of the fortnightly service.

Residents who switch to fortnightly general waste collection will receive a pro-rata discount applied from their allocated start date. A minimum commitment of three months is required. To request a change to fortnightly waste collection, please complete the online Opt-In Fortnightly General Waste Collection Form here. Property owners can revert back to a weekly general waste collection by completing the Cancellation of an Opt-In Fortnightly General Waste Collection From here.

Note: The standard full waste service charge will be applied on the property from the date of application.

What if my bin is missed, damaged or lost?

• Damaged Red-General Waste bins or missed collections can be reported to our customer service team on (02) 4993 4100 or report via this link.
• Stolen or lost general waste bins can be reported to customer service team on (02) 4993 4100 and a replacement bin will be arranged.

Your Red-General Waste bin always remain the property of Council for the purpose of garbage disposal. They should not be used for any other purpose or removed from the original property to which it was supplied (serial numbers of bins are recorded in property files).

Your Yellow-Recycling bin is emptied fortnightly.

The recycling service is contracted to Hunter Resource Recovery (HRR). Review the Live Calander (found on the Waste homepage) or download the LoopedInCouncils new waste app for free via the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Tips and Hints:

• Items should be placed loose in the bin NOT in plastic bags.
• Flatten boxes to make more space.
• Give containers and quick rinse/scrape to remove excess food and stop odours.
• Avoid excess packaging by buying in bulk and using reusable containers.

If in doubt – leave it out!

Look out for the Australian Recycling Label on products that you buy. It shows what needs to be done with each piece of a package to dispose of it in the best way.

Return & Earn

The Return and Earn container deposit scheme allows consumers to return containers at several locations across the LGA, in exchange for a 10 cent refund per container. A full list of items and locations can be found here.

What if my bin is missed, damaged or lost?

Contact Hunter Resource Recovery on 1800 838 884 or https://hrr.com.au/ for any questions or concerns regarding your Yellow-Recycling bin.

Your Green-Organics bin is emptied weekly.

The organics service is contracted to Solo Resource Recovery and Australian Native Landscapes. The material collected in your organics bin is processed at Tea Gardens, where it's made into a high quality compost for use by home gardeners and farmers.

Tips and Hints:

• Place material loosely in your bin - don’t squash it down as it may become stuck in your bin.
• Avoid overflowing you bin (max 80kg).
• Put garden organics (grass clippings) in the bottom to prevent sticking.
• Reduce excess moisture by mowing when it’s dry or leaving the bin lid ajar.

If it grows – in it goes!

Contamination is a serious problem for safety of staff and the quality of compost produced. If you’re unsure of what can be accepted check out the Interactive A-Z Guide above.

Food and Garden Organics (GOGO) Collection

The NSW Government has mandated the inclusion of food waste into the green bin collection services across all Councils in NSW by 2030.

Cessnock, alongside Maitland and Singleton Councils, rolled out food organic recycling from the week commencing 30 June 2025. The expanded food and garden organic service included weekly collection of your green bin from this time.

What if my bin is missed, damaged or lost?

Contact Solo on 1800 870 250 or https://www.solo.com.au/ for any questions or concerns regarding your Green-Organics bin.

Delivery of a kitchen caddy and compostable liners to all households with a Council waste service (50% funded by a NSW EPA Go FOGO Grant) has now been completed. This will help you move food waste from your kitchen to your food and garden organics bin.

Kitchen Caddy

Replacement caddies are available for purchase at cost price (approx. $5 - see Council's current Fees and Charges here. If you compost or are already using a caddy system at home, continue to do so! You can collect food scraps in any container that suits your kitchen size and design. A reused ice cream container also works.

Compostable Liners

Council liners are supplied specifically for the use of FOGO. To ensure your liners last longer, only use them to collect food scraps from your kitchen. You can also put food in loose without using a liner. If you do want to use liners, you can only use Council approved liners. Do not use plastic bags or “biodegradable” liners. Each household receives a roll of 150 council-approved compostable liners delivered annually. These liners are for use in your kitchen caddy to collect food waste before emptying it into your green-lidded organics bin. The next annual roll-out will be in May 2026. If you run out, you can collect FREE top-up packs of 50 liners from one of our local collection points. Visit one of the collection points below and ask a staff member for assistance. Please note, a limit of one pack per visit, per household. Proof of residency will be required upon collection.

If your house did not receive a caddy and/or 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. New homes will receive a starter kit (of caddy and liners) with the delivery of their new waste service bins.

Find out more about FOGO here.

I rent a property. Can my landlord force me to change my bin collection frequency?

No. Council’s Waste Management Policy states that landlords must have the tenant’s agreement before changing to an alternate waste collection service.

How often is my General Waste Bin collected?

Your general waste bin is collected weekly as standard (as per Council's Waste Management Policy), unless you choose to opt in to the fortnightly general waste collection.

How does the driver know when to collect my bin if I opt-in for Fortnightly General Waste Collection?

If you have opted in to fortnightly general waste collection, your bin will be collected on the opposite week to your recycling bin. Your general waste bin will also have a sticker so drivers can easily identify it.

Can I upsize my Recycling bin?

You can swap your existing 240 litre recycling bin to a larger 360 litre bin for a one-off fee, by completing an Upsize Recycle Bin for here. 

Your recycling bin will be swapped on your regular recycling day. Please leave your recycling bin on the kerb until 5pm so it can be emptied and swapped over. It may take up to eight weeks after your application is received for your bin to be swapped.

The 240 litre recycling bin is 68cm wide and 85cm deep at the top (it tapers at the base) and 1.1 metres high. By comparison, the 360 litre recycling bin is 10cm wider, 12cm deeper and 4cm taller than the standard 240 litre recycling bin. A sample 360 litre bin is on display in the foyer of Council's Administration Building for those wishing to view before swapping.

Note: the weight limit of the 360 litre bin is 80 kilograms (same as the standard 240 litre bin). This limit doesn't cause an issue unless it's filled with large amounts of glass or paper.

Why wasn’t my bin emptied?

If unacceptable items, or contamination, are placed in your bin, it may not be emptied. All trucks have on-board cameras that allow drivers to identify contamination. If your bin is contaminated the collection driver will place a sticker on the bin to advise why the bin was not emptied. The bin will only be emptied once the contaminant has been removed. If your bin is stickered again for non-conformance, your service may be suspended.

Can I get additional bins?

If you require an additional Red-General Waste bin, a full three (3) bin service must be paid.

If you want an additional Yellow-Recycling and/or Green-Organics bin please complete apply the Additional Waste Services form here.

The easiest way to get your waste vouchers will be through the LoopedIn Councils new waste app.

1. Download “LoopedIn Councils” from the Apple App Store or Google Play
2. Open the app on your phone and select Cessnock City Council when setting up the app and enter your address
3. Click on “My Vouchers” and complete the required fields to access your waste vouchers

Redeem when you’re ready to use. When visiting the CWMC show the operator your voucher’s barcode on the way in to check it's valid and on the way out our friendly staff will scan the voucher. Its also a requirement to have proof of identity matching the voucher address. This can be driver’s licence, pensioner’s concession card (Australian), current utilities bill from the last quarter (this includes electricity, gas and phone or internet but excludes water), vehicle registration, current rental agreement.

Note: Each voucher contains a unique and individual barcode that can only be redeemed.

We appreciate that not everyone has access to a mobile phone with Apple or Android app services. To get a PDF or Print copy of your vouchers, fill in your details below. You can then click on the "Print" button in the top right-hand corner and the vouchers will automatically go to an A4 page for printing.

You can also request paper vouchers be mailed out to you by completing the Paper Waste and Resource Recovery Voucher Request Form or by calling (02) 4993 4100. If you wish to receive paper vouchers continuously, you will need to follow the above process each time vouchers are issued each January and July.

• Vouchers are only valid for use at the Cessnock Waste Management Centre
• Vouchers can only be used for domestic household waste
• Each voucher can be used to dispose of up to 250kg of household waste or recoverable material
• Loads over 250kg require additional vouchers or will be charged in accordance with Council's Fees and Charges
• Vouchers cannot be used for disposing of tyres or special waste such as asbestos
• Vouchers are valid to the date shown
• Vouchers must be presented at the time of disposal along with proof of address. This can be driver’s licence, pensioner’s concession card (Australian), current utilities bill from the last quarter (this includes electricity, gas and phone or internet but excludes water), vehicle registration, current rental agreement.
• Vouchers will be deemed invalid if the holder does not follow directions from site staff including appropriately disposing of recyclable and mixed waste

Please note: Resale of vouchers may result in the voucher being rendered void. The voucher system is designed to assist residents manage their domestic waste disposal responsibly. Abuse of this service, such as on-selling, may result in the system being withdrawn.

Council has developed a process for all residents to pay an Approved Business to dispose of their bulk waste at Cessnock Waste Management Centre with the use of their annual waste vouchers.

The disposal fee is covered for up to 250kg of approved waste per voucher. The agreement/cost for removal and transport of waste is between the business and the voucher holder, Council hold no liability for the service, insurance or cost involved in the transaction.

Applications

• Residents can apply for this provision here
• Commercial operators can apply to become an Approved Business here

If you have any questions about the use of annual waste vouchers, or if you are unable to submit an online form, please contact Council's Customer Relations team on 02 4993 4100.

List of Approved Businesses

Why did Council decide to move to the App for this?

Our new e-vouchers mean no more missing or lost vouchers and makes it easier to share them between landlords/real estate agents and tenants. Issuing them twice a year also helps with property sales during the year to make sure the current owner receives their entitlements sooner.

I am a tenant, am I eligible for the electronic waste vouchers?

Yes, waste vouchers are for the occupants of a property. Assessment numbers are no longer required to obtain waste vouchers. Simply download the LoopedIn Councils app and enter your address details.

What do I use my General Mixed Waste Vouchers for?

Waste Waste Vouchers can be used for anything going into landfill such as: Damaged/old furniture, carpet, timber, fabrics, clothing, household waste.

What do I use my Resource Recover Recycling Vouchers for?

Recycling Vouchers can be used for anything that can be recycled or reprocessed such as: Mattresses (limit 1 per voucher), garden organics (grass clippings, tree branches, prunings, weeds, leaves, flowers, plants, bark, roots, palm fronds), metal and building materials (concrete (free of contamination), bricks, tiles, wire, metal panels, ovens, microwaves, metal fans, metal light fittings, bikes, whitegoods, fridges, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers), and/or bulk recycling (cardboard, paper, plastic bottles, plastic containers, glass bottles, glass jars, steel cans, aluminium cans).

What proof of address will be accepted at the Cessnock Waste Management Centre?

In addition to your waste voucher, you will need to provide proof of your Cessnock LGA address upon arrival at Cessnock Waste Management Centre.

Accepted forms of proof of residence include: a driver’s licence, pensioner’s concession card (Australian), current utilities bill from the last quarter (this includes electricity, gas and phone or internet but excludes water), vehicle registration, current rental agreement.

Why don't Council offer kerbside bulk waste collection?

Modelling undertaken in the last couple of years estimated that providing kerbside bulk waste collection across the Cessnock LGA would increase the Domestic Waste Management charge by approximately $120 per year. Community consultation on bulk waste service options, undertaken most recently in 2024, resulted in 58% of respondents preferring a choice of voucher over a kerbside bulk waste pick up.

Who can apply for Alternate Waste and Recycle Vouchers?

Residential properties in the Cessnock local government area that are outside the domestic waste management service area (i.e. do not receive a kerbside collection) are eligible to purchase Alternate Waste and/or Recycling Vouchers.

The vouchers are for residential waste only and cannot be purchased by commercial premises or used for commercial generated waste.

What does the Alternate Waste and Recycle Vouchers cover?

Alternate Waste Vouchers allows up to 20 kg of mixed waste to be disposed of at the Cessnock Waste Management Centre. The vouchers cannot be used for special waste such as asbestos, tyres and mattresses.

Alternate Recycling Vouchers allows up to 20 kg of cardboard and commingled recyclables to be disposed of at the Cessnock Waste Management Centre. These vouchers cannot be used for any other waste.

Can I get a refund if I have vouchers left from last year?

Refunds will not be provided, however up to 10 vouchers each of waste and recycling (maximum 20) from the previous financial year can be exchanged for current vouchers.

Vouchers are valid until 31 August and can be exchanged between 1 September and 1 October only.