It Pays to Recycle

Understanding your Domestic Waste Management (DWM) charge

The DWM charge - typically $349.50 ($6.70 a week) for residential ratepayers - funds Council’s household waste and recycling service (your red, green and yellow bins and free booked clean-up service).

In addition to this, Council must pay landfill tipping fees of $79 per tonne ($1.80 million this year). Council also pays a compulsory State Government levy, an estimated total of $1.25 million in 2009/2010 or $43.01 a year per household. This levy will increase each year as part of the NSW Government strategy to reduce landfill. Marrickville residents now recycle 400 kilos per household on average, which is 43% of all household waste - up from only 18% in 2000. We are improving but we need to do better to reach our target of 66% by 2014.

Keep up your household recycling and keep costs down; it's good for the planet and good for your pocket.

• For further details, including recycling tips, visit our Recycling and Waste section on this website.