People dumping tyres illegally, are cautioned to tread carefully, with possible fines up to $30,000 for offenders.
The warning comes following a recent incident where 45 car tyres had been dumped at James Watson Reserve, a suburb of Clover Park, Ōtara.
Ōtara-Papatoetoe local board chair, Apulu Reece Autagavaia, emphasises that our parks and businesses should not be used as dumping grounds for individuals or organisations unable to properly dispose of tyres.
“It is sad to see individuals thoughtlessly discarding tyres, amongst various other items in our parks and businesses, without considering the financial and the environmental cost of their actions. We, along with our community partners – the hardworking individuals who diligently keep our spaces clean and contribute to the well-being of the community, deeply value our environment, and will not tolerate such actions.
“By simply making a phone call or accessing the internet, one can easily discover suitable locations to responsibly dispose of waste or rubbish. Offenders caught illegally dumping rubbish will be ordered to remove the rubbish and may be issued with a fine of up to $400. Serious offenders may also be prosecuted under the Litter Act 1979 with a maximum penalty of $30,000.
“So, I would encourage our community to report illegal dumping in our parks because Ōtara deserves to be treated better than this."
General Manager of Waste Solutions, Parul Sood, confirmed around 45 tyres had been illegally dumped in that location on 15 May and a few days after.
Parul highlighted that more than 28,000 tyres have been unlawfully disposed of in the Auckland region from July 2022 to April 2024. The implementation of the national Tyrewise free tyre recycling scheme in September is expected to discourage individuals from engaging in illegal tyre dumping.
“We have many examples where the large number of tires being thrown away indicates that the likely culprit is a commercial business or business of some nature,” said Sood,
She adds that the incidents highlight the need for the new national tire recycling program, Tyrewise, which includes a free disposal service from September 1.
“This should deter people from dumping or paying illegal operators who then dump the tires,” she said.
If you witness littering in a public place:
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email inthebin@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, or
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call 0800NODUMP (0800 663 867)
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all details can be found here
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