The levy, which was introduced last year at $120 and will increase to $150 this year, has been petitioned by more than 2000 residents.

The petitions, which have been posted at businesses around town for the past four weeks, ask the city council to waive the waste levy charged to ratepayers.

Shane McMahon and Malcolm Horner attended last week's city council budget submissions meeting to protest against the levy.

"I reckon the bins are a good idea," Mr Horner said.

"(But) it's double dipping."

The men believe that ratepayers pay for their waste collection in their rates, and should not have to pay the additional levy.

"I totally believe that the council's expenditure is too great," Mr McMahon said.

Some quick maths from Mr McMahon found that while the city had the three-bin system for nine months of the past financial year, ratepayers had paid the $120 fee for an entire year.

"We are owed $47," he said.

"It's a farce."

The men said they believed that if the waste levy was to be charged, the rates increase of 6.5 per cent that is proposed should not go ahead as well.

"They ripped us off," Mr Horner said.

The waste levy was introduced last year to cover the waste tax the State Government brought in for local governments.

The men presented their petitions at the council meeting on Wednesday, but did not hand them over.

"It's got to go further than local government," Mr Horner said.

Mr McMahon said they would hand the petitions over to the State Government in due course.

While they are planning on a meeting with the city council, and attended the budget meeting, neither of the men are sure if anything will come of it.

"You could debate anything … but is it going to go any further?" Mr Horner said.

City manager John Stephens said the council would not change its levies.

What other councils charge for waste collection:

Whyalla City Council - $158 for 2008/09, up from $150 last year.

Port Pirie Regional Council - levy is included in rates notice

Port Lincoln City Council - $35 recycling levy (introduced this year) and waste levy is included in rates notice