If you live in the Cessnock City Council area, the way you access tip passes has changed — and it's actually a small improvement worth knowing about. As of January 2024, Council shifted to digital waste vouchers via the Cessnock Waste App, alongside the existing paper option.

Here's what's actually different and how to use the new system.

How the digital vouchers work

Download the Cessnock Waste App to your phone. Open it, tap "Waste Vouchers," enter your name, contact number, address, and assessment number, and accept the terms. Your vouchers appear on your phone as scannable barcodes.

When you arrive at the tip, you scan the barcode on entry, and again when redeeming. Each barcode is one-time use only — once it's scanned, it's done.

If your phone isn't your friend, you can still print vouchers from the Council website or request paper ones by form or phone call.

What you actually get

For properties with a domestic waste service, vouchers are issued twice a year and include:

• 2 general waste vouchers — 250 kg each
• 4 resource recovery vouchers — 250 kg each, for recycling, organics and similar

That's a fair allocation for most households, especially if you're doing a clean-out or end-of-tenancy disposal.

Conditions worth flagging

A few things to keep in mind:

• You'll need proof of address that matches the voucher when you turn up at the tip
• They don't cover everything. Mattresses, tyres, asbestos and other special wastes are excluded — you'll need to make separate arrangements (and there are providers who handle these)
• Reselling or misusing vouchers can result in the service being withdrawn, so don't lend yours around

What if you're outside the kerbside collection area?

If your property isn't covered by the weekly kerbside service, you can apply for alternative waste and recycling vouchers through Council's forms. It's a different process but the entitlement is comparable.

Why this matters for tenants and landlords

For tenants, especially around end-of-tenancy clean-ups, knowing the vouchers exist and how to access them can save real money. We'd encourage anyone moving out to use them rather than leaving rubbish for someone else to deal with — it tends to come out of the bond either way.

For landlords, if you've got a property in the area and you're doing a periodic refresh between tenancies, the vouchers can offset disposal costs on old furniture, garden waste from a tidy-up, or general clutter that builds up.

For the latest details, check cessnock.nsw.gov.au directly — Council has the final word on entitlements and rules.