Dumping rubbish causing major stink
Rubbish bags left outside high density housing blocks in Hamilton are causing a stink, with passersby calling the streets ‘‘unsightly, unsanitary and unsafe’’.
Karen Hay and Kirsty Stoddart regularly travel through Vesty Ave, in Hillcrest, and each day they are forced to traverse through litter disposed of incorrectly.
Bags put out each day of the week, unwanted furniture and appliances on the sidewalk, and food waste are all recklessly dumped along the high-density avenue.
But their biggest gripe is a lack of consequences for the repeat offenders.
Hay first approached Hamilton City Council’s litter compliance team in August 2017. She said they have been contacted on numerous occasions, and although the rubbish is often collected, the next day there is more.
‘‘They are utterly ineffective. Six months on, the problem still exists,’’ she said.
Hay and Stoddart believe the root of the problem lies within the high density housing blocks lining the street, and the tenants’ illinformed knowledge about correct recycling methods.
Rubbish collection on the street occurs on a Monday, but bags are put on the sidewalk by tenants every day of the week, she said.
‘‘Council are really keen to put up these high density housing blocks but don’t have the infrastructure to deal with them. It’s happening all around here.’’
It’s also concerning for the students who venture along Vesty Ave to get to school, Hay said.
Hillcrest High School, St John’s College and Waikato University are all nearby.
‘‘It’s not good for anyone’s kids to have to walk through this and think it’s acceptable,’’ Hay said.
Hay and Stoddart believe the problem is never going to stop without proper consequences for tenants.
However, Hamilton City Council City Waters compliance manager Trent Fowles said there were many factors to consider when dealing with rubbish dumpers.
He said council was aware of the problem on Vesty Ave, and that he and his team undertake proactive monitoring around high density sites.
‘‘In the Hillcrest area, students do get quite a bad rap, but it’s not always students,’’ Fowles said.
Many of the offenders are ‘‘transient tenants’’ most likely flatting for the first time, while others will continue to dump rubbish incorrectly despite a visit from a compliance officer, he said.
The council’s Mario Gatt is one of the men on the ground and visits the homes of repeat offenders to inform them how to correctly dispose of rubbish.
Council also speaks with property owners and landlords if the problems persists.
And when it comes to dealing with intentional illegal dumping – the disposing of waste without using kerbside collection or an authorised rubbish dump – council’s biggest challenge was finding the proof.
However, when council can prove a case of illegal dumping, the offender can be charged a $400 fine.
Gatt believes council’s proposal in the draft 10-Year-Plan to upgrade the city’s kerbside collection to incorporate wheeled bins for rubbish, recycling and food waste, is a long-term way to reduce the problem of incorrect rubbish disposal.