Mayor takes fight to illegal dumpers

Sick of illegal dumping in Auckland? So is Mayor Phil Goff and he wants you to do something about it.

To stem the problem of people dumping rubbish illegally, Auckland Council has allocated $200,000 towards a hotline number, new CCTV cameras, new enforcement staff and other measures.

The initiative is being spearheaded by Goff who has had a “gutsful” of illegal dumpers.

“Illegal roadside rubbish dumping has blighted our city, harmed our environment and burdened ratepayers with the cost of clean-up.

“Aucklanders are [sick of it] and I’m calling on members of the public to help us tackle the problem,” Goff said.

The move was the first of a “series of initiatives” that would address the problem.

The first step was the introduction of the hotline service 0800 NO DUMP, which allowed people to report where rubbish is dumped so council could clean it up quickly.

“It [also] allows them to provide [evidence that would enable us to find and prosecute the culprits].”

Three enforcement staff were also being added, for a total of nine.

Urban fringes near the countryside were a common location for dumping but it was also happening in commercial and industrial areas as well as reserves, he said.

Council was working with police and the private sector, as well as using networks of CCTV cameras to get prosecutions of commercial operators that were dumping their rubbish.