Councillors at yesterday's full council meeting voted in favour of "Option C" as their preferred choice for public consultation.
Under the scheme, black rubbish bags and blue 45-litre recycling bins would be retained for rubbish and glass recycling, while a new 140-litre wheelie bin was introduced for a mixture of other recycling.
The new wheelie bins, along with the existing blue 45-litre bins, would be collected fortnightly, while rubbish would continue to be collected weekly.
A list of variations on the standard service would also be available for those in hard-to-reach parts of the city and in other circumstances where there was a need.
The system would cost each household an estimated $70 a year, adding 1.1% to the city's rates in 2010-11.
Cr Andrew Noone - the chairman of the council's kerbside working party - supported the option as the most flexible for the city, while the retention of black rubbish bags was in keeping with a "polluter-pays" ethos.
However, Cr Richard Walls argued against the option, fearing the kerbside plan was "rushed" and price increases for the new service would amount to the council writing a "blank cheque for contractors".
He wanted residents to be given more choice, including the option of an 80, 140 or 240-litre wheelie bin for mingled recyclables, and a recycling crate for glass, or two or more stacker bins for glass and other recyclables.
His proposal would also cost an estimated $70 per household, but provide greater flexibility, he believed.
The options suggested were not exclusive of one another but would be the choice of property owners.
However, his amended option failed to win support from the majority of councillors at yesterday's meeting, who instead voted to approve Option C for consultation.
Consultation would include those service options considered, but not supported, by councillors, and would begin with a public notice published on August 22.
Submissions would close on September 22 and be followed by a hearing scheduled for October 5.
A final decision was expected on November 2, with a tender to be awarded in February next year.
The new service would start in October next year.
A $20,000 education campaign detailing Option C was being developed and would be released through the media and a travelling roadshow.
