Council is advocating for the NSW Government to untie Shoalhaven residents from applying metropolitan waste levy charges to the regional area.
Mayor Patricia White has issued a letter to the NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Heritage, The Hon. Penny Sharpe, stating that residents are paying millions of dollars each year under a classification that does not reflect the region's circumstances.
Council estimates Shoalhaven residents contribute around $5.6 million annually through the waste levy, equating to approximately $93 per household each year. If the Shoalhaven was reclassified to the Regional Levy Area, local households could collectively save an estimated $2.37 million every year.
"For years, Shoalhaven residents have been paying a higher waste levy despite living in a regional area and despite Council making significant investments in waste reduction and recycling infrastructure," Cr White said.
"We believe it's time for the NSW Government to explain why Shoalhaven remains classified within the Metropolitan Waste Levy Area when independent reviews have repeatedly questioned that decision.
"I have written to the Hon. Penny Sharpe MLC calling for an end to this unfair levy and hope this longstanding issue can finally be resolved," she said.
In 2018, the issue was examined as part of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Energy from Waste, which found there was no justification for Shoalhaven's inclusion in the Metropolitan Waste Levy Area and recommended its reclassification. The NSW Audit Office has also raised concerns about the transparency and objectivity of levy boundary determinations.
Council has demonstrated a strong commitment to waste avoidance and resource recovery through substantial local investment, including the $38 million Materials Recovery Facility, glass recovery programs, tyre recycling initiatives, green waste processing and a range of community recycling services. It operates its own landfill and has built one of the most comprehensive regional resource recovery systems in Australia.
Cr White is urging the NSW Government to either grant an exemption from the Metropolitan Waste Levy, reclassify Shoalhaven into the Regional Levy Area, or undertake an urgent review and publicly provide the evidence supporting the region's continued inclusion in the metropolitan levy zone.
