One of the most common arguments from ratepayers against the reduction in service is the lack of reduction in cost. 

Residents argue if the red bin service is reduced by half, why are the rates not also reduced by half? 

This argument does not take into account the previous contract with JR Richards & Sons was for 10 years, and the contract to  be signed would be more expensive regardless.

Last year a report to council said ratepayers would be charged another $23 to continue with the weekly bin collection. 

Whereas, under the proposal residents who needed an extra bin collection could buy a ticket for $1.95 so after 11 weeks of asking for an extra pick-up, households would have accumulated the $23 cost. 

But like councillor Kevin Duffy said, why could council not further subsidise the cost of a service that every ratepayer uses rather than subsidising the cost of service only few use such as the art gallery or aquatic centre. 

But there is an argument that if households recycled efficiently then there would not be much left to put in the red bin. 

Plastic packaging from food products is one of the few items left, that and nappies and sanitary products.

Residents say their green bin is full after mowing but if the grass clippings were put back onto the garden the problem was solved. 

Then there is the issue of education. 

There needs to be a great deal of investment into education because otherwise the system is flawed from the start. 

According to council staff, when it comes to pizza boxes, cardboard should be put in the yellow bin, pizza scraps in the green bin, bits of pizza stuck to large bits of cardboard in the yellow bin and small bits of cardboard completely encased in cheese in the red bin.

It is confusing as it is but when you throw children into the mix who tend to throw out anything, in anything, it becomes a problem.