Auckland Council is offering to help a private landowner in efforts to deter future dumping at an illegal dumping ‘hot spot’ in Robertson Rd, Mangere.
The council has suggested installing CCTV equipment at the privately-owned site where an unusually large and unsightly pile of inorganic rubbish has appeared. It is also investigating witness statements and other evidence with a view to prosecuting the culprits.
“Private landowners are responsible for clearing rubbish on their land and, in this case, the landowner has been actively managing the site to prevent further dumping,” says Waste Solutions Manager Ian Stupple.
“Illegal dumping is highly undesirable because of its negative social and financial impacts. The council is keen to help as much as we can to deter this behaviour, and maintain clean, healthy and tidy streets.”
Witness statements suggest people are coming in from outside the neighbourhood to dump their rubbish.
“This display of disregard for other people’s health, safety and enjoyment of their community is particularly disappointing because, up until this point, illegal dumping volumes had dropped by 58 per cent in south Auckland, compared to the same period last year.
"The evidence shows that people dump more when they see inorganic material out in the street – which is one of the reasons we are changing our collections so they are picked up from inside people’s properties, not the kerbside .”
How you can help
With a cost of $1 million in clean ups every year, the council is appealing to residents to come forward when they see illegal dumping so the council can take action.
People disposing of inorganic waste should give it away or sell it. If that is not possible, they should get rid of it legally and responsibly at a transfer station, or by hiring a waste removal company or skip bin.
Residents can also hold on to their inorganic items until they receive an inorganic collection.
What’s happening with inorganic collections?
The new on property, bookable, rates-funded collections will roll out across the south and the rest of the region between February and November 2016.
The service is already running in parts of North Shore, Waitakere and Rodney, where there have been excellent results regarding resident behaviour, minimal illegal dumping and the diversion of inorganic material from landfill.
