Tip fees are among the issues to be debated as part of the Maitland City Council 2012/13 Operational Plan tonight.
The operational plan will be a budget of sorts, defining how a $4 million increase in rate revenue will be spent.
To help meet the state government’s Waste Services Levy, council has recommended an increase in the box trailer tip fee from $41 to $59 a load.
Cr Henry Meskauskas said there was already evidence people could not afford the fees.
“There is more and more rubbish dumped in laneways, paddocks and reserves,” he said.
“At the end of the day, they [residents] won’t pay the inflated prices, they will dump it wherever they can.”
Cr Meskauskas said a stripped car body had been taken by trailer and dumped in the reserve Between Vindin and Joan streets, Rutherford, over the weekend.
“Council hasn’t even looked to see if the costs could be offset by increasing the charge to commercial tip users, for example, to make it more affordable to residents.”