Cr Meskauskas (pictured) said he has four councillors in support of a kerbside pick-up trial and needed a majority of seven to bring in the service.

“Until we do the trial this is going to get worse and worse,” he said.

“It will continue to happen any day of the week because people can’t afford to pay the tip fees – they are too high.

“I will be pushing hard to get this off the ground.”

Council service planning and regulation group manager Bernie Mortomore said the kerbside pick-up was one of many options that would be considered.

Mr Mortomore said a report outlining options was being prepared in accordance with the 2011-2012 Operational Plan and the findings would be presented to council before the end of the financial year.

He said the kerbside pick-up trial would be voted on in the coming months and Cr Meskauskas would have the opportunity to put forward his case.

“Nothing has been decided yet, the options are part of a bigger picture and the kerbside pick-up is one part of it,” Mr Mortomore said.

Cr Meskauskas has been an advocate for the service for many years.

He said residents wanted the service and Maitland and Cessnock were the only council’s in the area that did not offer it.

“I have spoken about it on many occasions; all the council has to do is allocate the money to make it happen and we will alleviate this problem.

“We need to put this to the vote and the council is stalling on this issue and not bringing it back for the vote quickly enough,” he said.

“It’s in the too hard basket.

“We are a can-do council, so why can’t we do it?”