Of 623 people who wrote submissions on the issue, option C, with the added wheelie bin, was preferred by 40%, while 39% opted for the status quo.
But with the Dunedin City Council keen to increase rates of recycling and reduce waste put into landfills, option C appears likely to be adopted.
It will be the subject of a hearing at the Dunedin City Council tomorrow.
In a council-run survey last year, 10,110 completed forms were received.
Solid waste manager Ian Featherston said last week the main drivers for change were the Government's 2002 waste strategy, which called for less waste going into landfills, and targets in the council's waste strategy, which included more recycling.
The council in August voted to proceed with consultation.
Its preferred option, option C, would see black bags retained for rubbish and blue bins for glass recycling, and a new 140-litre wheelie bin, or a list of alternative options, for other recyclable materials.
The consultation also listed the status quo, and three other kerbside collection options.
Mr Featherston said in a report to the hearings committee that there was a desire for change, as only 39% of those making submissions wanted to keep the status quo.
Apart from option C and the status quo, only option A, a three-bin system preferred by 14%, passed the 10% mark.
Mr Featherston said he had looked through the submissions to get an idea of what older people on fixed incomes wanted.
"Option E [the status quo] was favoured by a lot of elderly, who commented on their age and the little amount of residual waste they put out."
His recommendation to the committee was that option C should proceed, based on the percentage that preferred it.
The hearings committee of Crs Andrew Noone (chairman), Bill Acklin, Syd Brown, Fliss Butcher, Chris Staynes, Teresa Stevenson and Colin Weatherall will meet tomorrow to hear from the 36 people who wished to speak to their submissions.
Cr Noone agreed option C and the status quo were the most popular options.
But he said the status quo did not deal with plans to send less waste to landfills, and increase recycling, which would extend the life of the council's landfill sites.
The cost of keeping the status quo would increase, as the council's contractor had indicated the price would be forced upwards because of increased costs to provide the service, Cr Noone said.
