Litter bugs challenge Taupo’s tidy kiwi
It’s that time again where we recognise the good things people have done for our town, and this time the public have spoken loudly with six nominations for one person.
The August ’Good Sort’ was awarded to Carol Lamb who takes it in her stride to help make Taupo beautiful, by picking up the rubbish people throw out of their car windows or hide in bushes.
Mayor David Trewavas said the award is ‘‘going to go down really well with the Taupo public.’’
He said Lamb has inspired the whole town and people often stop and thank her for her amazing work.
‘‘This being a local good sort is so fitting of Carol,’’ said Trewavas.
Lamb started picking up rubbish when she started cycling and noticed the town was becoming a mess.
‘‘Everywhere I cycled was trashed so the night before the summer concert 2016, I started recording and photographing litter pickups, even though I had spent years picking up on a smaller scale.’’
She said over the past 19 months she has spent 630 hours picking up over 4000kg worth of rubbish.
Lamb said ‘‘I’m grateful, I didn’t realise the public was behind me.’’
She said the rubbish problem is too big for the council to deal with and until people got out there themselves, they could not understand.
She said people come to Taupo and trash it, so we have to save it.
Lamb said the major problem was ’’car litter louts’’ who toss their rubbish out the window when driving through.
She said she wants to encourage people to keep it in the car or to find a near by rubbish bin.
‘‘I just want to see it stop. Keep New Zealand beautiful.’’
She said her hopes are for everyone to find their environmental heart and encourage those that can, to help keep Taupo clean. ‘‘Our problem is huge. ‘‘Keep our reserves and parks free of illegal dumping. Landfill charges are $12 up to 100kg or $30 up to 200kg.’’
She said there is no excuse to let toxins leach into our soils.
Lamb said don’t leave rubbish behind, ‘‘Bin it it take it home. It’s a no brainer.’’