Spike in dumping after lockdown
No excuse to to dump rubbish illegally
A“massive” increase in rubbish dumping around Napier and Hastings since lockdown ended has been reported.
The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council said rubbish dumping had increased by 25 per cent in the last few months.
HBRC team leader schemes Antony Newcastle said finding dumped rubbish was generally a daily occurrence.
Regional council ranger Mark Brinsdon said the dumping included “everything you can imagine” from household items, concrete blocks, tyres and animal waste.
Newcastle said animal carcasses are found about once a week this time of year.
“We reckon it’s because refuse stations were closed, but that’s still no excuse. We’re getting really frustrated,” Brinsdon said.
Newcastle said the worst-hit areas are urban waterways.
“Because the rubbish is dumped beside waterways when we get some rain like we’re getting at the moment it goes into the stormwater system, ending up in the Estuary from Napier and the Karamu¯ and near Waitangi from Hastings.”
Brinsdon said over the last year rubbish dumping cost ratepayers $100,000 and with the increase in dumping “this cost is going to go up”.
It also affects the environment and can be dangerous he said.
When rubbish is dumped on the side of the road or beside rivers “they’re hurting our environment” he said.
“Dumping disrespects, the community and our environment, and can be dangerous. The other day rubbish was left in front of an access point to a pump station, which means if our team need to get into it for flood prevention work, they can’t.
“Not only that, but it also affects the oceans, rivers and wildlife. Many animals die in their attempts to eat or get caught up in plastic bags left to blow away in the wind.
With composting, recycling and the tip there are “no excuses” to dump rubbish he said.
When the regional council finds information that leads to the owner of the dumped rubbish, they will be charging them with the cost of cleanup and removal he said.
“I’m asking people to please think about our community and environment. Dumping is not okay, and you’re just handing your problem onto the community — it doesn’t mean it goes away. This is a community issue that can only be solved with community help. I strongly encourage the public to call our pollution hotline on 0800 108 838 when rubbish dumping is taking place.”