Waste FAQs

1. Organics Waste - Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) – green lid 

2. Mixed recycling (also called ‘co-mingled’) – yellow lid

3. General waste – red lid

The amount residents and businesses pay for waste collection services is outlined in our Fees & Charges, which are set every 12 months in line with the financial year.

These fees and charges cover the costs we incur for providing all the three streams of waste collection to the Murrumbidgee community.

Using three bins for kerbside collection allows us all to manage our waste more effectively.

It is part of an overall strategy by the NSW Government based around the concept of a circular economy, which works on the principle of using our resources more efficiently and making them more productive. We extend the lifeline of our products by reusing or recycling them.

This, in turn, reduces the amount of waste going to landfill or ending up as litter. It ensures our waste does not become a problem for future generations to deal with and allows us to live sustainably in our beautiful natural environment.

Owners of vacant blocks will a domestic waste charge on their rates.

We are required to charge this under the Local Government Act which specifies that councils must levy a domestic waste charge on all rateable properties where the service is deemed available. This includes vacant land.

If the contents of the FOGO or recycling bins are contaminated we are charged an additional sorting fee as I takes extra time for our waste partners to hand sort the waste and dispose of the contaminated waste at the landfill.

Yes, properties who have FOGO collection receive a free kitchen caddy (funded by a grant from the NSW Government). Here's some tips for your kitchen caddy:Keep your caddy or container close to kitchen work area for convenience – eg on benchtop, in a cupboard or under the sink

• Close the kitchen caddy lid
• Line your caddy with the council-supplied certified compostable liner
• Store your caddy out of direct sunlight
• Empty every 2-3 days, or as needed
• Clean your caddy regularly with warm soapy water or put it in your dishwasher

The NSW Government has passed a law that all NSW households must have a FOGO bin for kerbside collection by 2030. If your property is within the collection area, you will receive your allocated bin. You will also receive a recycling bin.

Yes, all eligible households receive a year's supply of kitchen caddy bags at the start of each financial year.

In the unlikely event you use your entire roll of bin liners before you receive your next allocation, please call into any of our council offices to buy a new supply. The price for a new roll is listed in our Fees & Charges.

Please do not use other types of plastic bags as these are classed as contaminants.

Our recycling goes to Kurrajong Waratah in Wagga Wagga. Two trips will be made to Wagga Wagga each collection week.

The contents of the FOGO bins are driven to Wormtech’s Composting Facility in Carrathool (located in our Council area). Council staff carry out this role.

Community Recycling Centres (CRC) are drop-off centres where we can drop off common household problem waste that can’t be collected via Council kerbside waste and recycling collection services (free of charge).

Coleambally and Jerilderie Waste Depots have CRC sheds where you can drop off household quantities of paint, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, motor oils, other oils, car batteries, household batteries, smoke detectors and fluorescent tubes and globes.

Mini stations are located at the Coleambally, Jerilderie and Darlington Point offices household batteries, smoke alarms, light globes, mobile phones and accessories and toner cartridges.

The car batteries can also be dropped off to the Men's Sheds at Coleambally and Jerilderie.

We also take part in the national DrumMUSTER and ChemClear programs.

We undertook a survey in early 2024 to gather data on rural ratepayers interested in having access to a recycling service. Unfortunately, there was not enough interest to justify the cost of providing this service. We are happy to investigate this opportunity again in the coming years.

Batteries most definitely can't go in any of your bins!

Batteries should never be placed in kerbside collection bins due to their hazardous nature and potential environmental impact. They contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leach into the soil and water if disposed of improperly.

When batteries are thrown into regular bins, they can also cause fires in waste collection and processing facilities due to their reactive components.

Instead, batteries should be taken to designated recycling points or drop-off locations where they can be safely processed and the materials can be recovered and reused, minimising harm to the environment and promoting sustainable waste management practices.

You can drop them at any of our council offices or at supermarkets that are designated collection points.