Kiama Council will introduce changes to its domestic waste services from July 2026, beginning with updates to the yellow‑lid recycling collection.
However nothing is changing immediately, and we are giving our community plenty of time to prepare.
Mayor Cameron McDonald said the changes are about making the service more efficient, more sustainable and better aligned with how the community actually uses it.
"I know change can be challenging," Mayor McDonald said. "But these updates are based on solid data about how often bins are used, how full they are, and what it costs to run the service. By making these adjustments, we can deliver a more efficient and environmentally responsible waste system for our community."
From July 2026, yellow‑lid recycling bins will shift from weekly to fortnightly collection.
"While this will be new for the recycling service, it's something our community is already comfortable with - Kiama residents already place their red‑lid general waste bins out fortnightly, and that system works well," Mayor McDonald said.
Research into current recycling patterns shows the weekly schedule is significantly under‑utilised:
- More than 66% of yellow‑lid bins are only half full when placed out.
- Over one-third of households don't put their recycling bin out weekly at all.
"Picking up empty bins - or driving past homes with no bins out - wastes fuel, time and money," the Mayor said. "A simple change in frequency allows us to modernise our service while reducing unnecessary costs."
At the same time, Council is reviewing its bin collection routes and days for the first time in over a decade, to meet the needs of a growing community. These updated routes will help balance workloads, reduce fuel consumption, and improve efficiency across the district.
Another important factor for Kiama residents is where recycling ends up. Council does not process any waste locally - all recyclable material is transported to Sydney. Reducing unnecessary collections helps cut transport costs and supports a more sustainable approach.
Mayor McDonald stressed that no Council worker jobs will be lost due to this change. "Kiama Council's local waste team remains in place and valued - these changes do not affect local jobs."
"It's also important to note that nothing changes until 1 July 2026 - residents will receive plenty of notice, reminders and support well ahead of the transition."
Fortnightly recycling collection is already common across neighbouring councils and has proven effective in both cost savings and environmental outcomes.
"We'll continue to share updates over the coming months so our community stays informed and prepared," Mayor McDonald said. "This is about good planning, responsible spending and making sure our waste services remain strong into the future."
To learn more, visit kiama.nsw.gov.au/waste-2026
