What has changed?
The 2024-2025 Fees and Charges were endorsed by Council at its meeting on 26 June 2024 following public exhibition. Changes in relation to waste operations are aimed at achieving financial sustainability. These include:
- 30% increase to all annual waste charges to bring the highest charges close to the cost of providing the waste facilities.
- 5% increase to waste disposal fees consistent with the advice of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal and alignment of these fees to ensure the same waste attracts the same price per tonne or per metre cubed regardless of the way it is delivered.
- Removal of an exemption for Boorowa ratepayers to dispose of domestic waste for free.
Boorowa ratepayers can still drop off green waste for free, as they do not receive a kerbside green waste collection service.
Isn’t this doubling up by Council?
This is not doubling up. All properties in the local government area pay annual waste access charges. Depending on your property, you may pay a combined waste collection charge that includes waste access or separate waste access charge and collection charges. Properties that do not receive a waste collection service are only charged for waste access.
Your annual waste charge does not allow for you to drop waste off for free. All waste dropped off to our staffed waste facilities will incur fees as per Council Fees and Charges.
What does the waste access charge on my rates notice pay for?
The waste access charge pays for the availability of safe and secure waste facilities for the community, including access roads, equipment, environmental and security controls.
Your annual waste charge does not pay for the processing of the waste you drop off to a waste facility.
I pay rates. Why should I pay another charge for waste?
General rate revenue is required to go towards services such as roads, drainage and public spaces and is not intended to cover waste management services. Therefore, Council’s waste management services must cover their own costs through appropriate user charges.
Why are annual waste charges different for Boorowa, Harden and Young?
Different annual waste charges apply depending on where your property is located. The total annual waste charges for properties are summarised below for the 2024-2025 financial year:
| Boorowa | Harden | Young | |
| Urban (access and kerbside collection) | $809.22 | $771.66 | $679.39 |
| Rural (access only) | $272.36 | $48.31 | $64.41 |
Different annual charges and different waste services have been in place since the formation of Hilltops local government area. At its meeting on 26 June 2024, Council resolved to increase the annual charges by 30% to bring the highest charges close to the cost of providing the waste facilities.
Council will consult the community later this year on options for aligning waste services, fees and charges across the local government area. Any changes would come into effect from 1 July 2025.
What if people leave their domestic waste in public bins?
This may be considered illegal dumping or littering and be subject to enforcement action by Council. For an individual, fines can be up to $50,000 following prosecution for illegal dumping or an on the spot fine of up to $2,500.
For more information on littering and illegal dumping please see our website at www.hilltops.nsw.gov.au/services/littering-illegal-dumping/
What is Council doing about illegal dumping?
Council compliance staff monitor and respond to incidents of littering and illegal dumping across our local government area. For an individual, fines can be up to $50,000 following prosecution for illegal dumping or an on the spot fine of up to $2,500.
For more information on littering and illegal dumping please see our website at www.hilltops.nsw.gov.au/services/littering-illegal-dumping/
To view Council’s 2024- 2025 Fees and Charges, please visit Council Policies & Plans page on website.