Media Release

For Immediate Release 

Thursday, 26 November 2019

Rubbish dumping costs neighbours, family and friends

PEOPLE who illegally dump their rubbish are costing their friends, family and neighbours. 

Fly tipping or illegally dumping rubbish in the Kawerau District cost ratepayers $45,000 in the last financial year. 

The Council is regularly notified of illegal rubbish dumping by Kawerau residents who phone, email or message via social media sites. Kawerau Transfer Station staff are also on the look-out during their usual activities. 

This previous year more than 41 service requests were raised by people who had discovered dumped rubbish. 

Usually it is Kawerau District Council staff who picks up rubbish that is illegally dumped which still has a cost, as it diverts staff from their usual responsibilities. Contractors are also used to collect this type of rubbish. In the 2018-2019 financial year, Kawerau District Council paid contractors $7,880.00 to collect illegally dumped rubbish, and the cost of staff collecting it was $36,905.. In addition, it cost another $2,500 on disposal costs. In total, that is $47,000 to keep Kawerau clean from all rubbish that has not been disposed of appropriately.

If this rubbish had been disposed of properly, using the kerbside rubbish collection services or had been taken to the Kawerau Transfer Station, the cost would have only been $2,500.

For a small district, spending $45,000 on picking up rubbish that is illegally dumped is a big ‘waste’ of resources. 

“Ultimately, people who do this are not dumping their rubbish free of charge – the cost is being picked up by their neighbours, friends and families who are ratepayers.” 

The frequency does seem to be increasing. 

The Council advises that if people have large amounts of rubbish at home - the starting point is to separate out the waste streams into green waste, recyclables (paper, cardboard, plastics), glass and general and inorganic waste (such as lawnmowers, bikes etc).

If you separate your rubbish, the cost will be greatly reduced at the Transfer Station.

Council does need to recover the costs of the Transfer Station and the small increase in charges, reflects that. 

“Council is not making a profit - we are just trying to cover the costs of operating the Transfer Station and of transporting the general waste out of the district to the landfill.” 

Ultimately, rubbish is an issue for everyone, not just Councils. We as consumers are all responsible for what we buy, use and re-use, recycle and dispose of.  

[ENDS]

For more information please contact:

Tania Humberstone, Communications Manager    Mobile 027 464 378