Kiama Council chief executive officer Jane Stroud has addressed community concern over waste collection services with an update on the ongoing Domestic Waste Service Review.

Stroud said no service changes will occur until a full community consultation process is completed.

"We have allowed at least six months before any operational changes to collections, and up to three years for some of the more complex service adjustments," she said.

"Yes, in time we will move to a fortnightly yellow-lid recycling collection, and we will adjust our collection zones. But these changes will not happen quickly, and they will not happen without community input."

Stroud explained that the changes were being considered because the way in which Council collects waste is not as efficient as it could be.

She pointed to data which shows:

• Many weekly yellow bins are not full when presented.
• Some are not presented at all.
• Certain collection zones have too few bins on some days and too many on others.

"If we’re collecting too little or too much on a given route, it increases costs and reduces efficiency," she added.

"We need to make sure our routes and services reflect how Kiama has grown and changed. This is sensible, responsible planning."

Stroud said outsourcing was not being considered amid what she termed "incorrect statements circulating in the community about outsourcing".

"Let me set the record straight. Council is not outsourcing domestic waste services. Full stop," she said.

"Suggestions that Remondis or any other operator is taking over are simply wrong. There are many good operators in the industry, but we deliver our own waste services and we intend to keep it that way."

Rising costs, environmental rules and good governance are driving this review, according to the CEO.

"Every council in NSW is facing higher processing fees, annual increases to the EPA landfill levy, which applies to all waste sent to landfill from the red bin and forms part of the gate fee at Dunmore.

"It has been more than 10 years since our waste collection zones were reviewed. Our towns have grown and practices have changed.

"This review is part of our obligation to manage public funds responsibly and transparently."

Stroud said that all waste collected in Kiama is already transported out of the LGA for processing, not taken to Minnamurra for landfill, which has not been the case for nearly 20 years.

"The Minnamurra facility stopped receiving general waste in 2006, when the landfill cell was capped. Since then, it has only operated as a small transfer point for specific materials."

She added that waste contracts were commercial-in-confidence and must remain that way.

"Because we manage large amounts of waste, these prices are set through competitive tenders.

"Commercial pricing is always confidential - that is the law - and it cannot be included in public business papers."