Fly tipping costs Tararua ratepayers thousands
Illegal rubbish dumping in Tararua District is taking its toll on council finances, with more than $70,000 spent in 2023 on removing it.
Fly tipping has been an issue in the district for many years, with the number of cases reported to the Tararua District Council on the rise.
A post on the council’s social media page on Monday asks the public to report any sightings of the “unacceptable” behaviour.
It said there had been an increasing number of instances where rubbish was being dumped on the roadside. “This is unacceptable, and it’s important to report activities like this in our area if we witness them.”
The council received 135 complaints about fly tipping in 2023, and spent more than $70,000 on removing the rubbish. This included more than $30,000 to tow away 71 abandoned vehicles.
The council is also asking anyone who saw rubbish recently being dumped on Pukewhai Rd near Pahīatua to reach out.
A large pile of broken window frames, debris and glass was reported on February 9, with the complainant stating that some rubbish had been there for a while.
The site appeared to be a popular dumping ground, with previous complaints about rubbish in the area also made to council.
One of those, in January 2023, said car parts had been dumped in the Mangatainoka River, near the Pukewhai Rd bridge. Among the discarded items were a front bumper and a bonnet.
Another complaint for the area was laid in September 2022. It said there were “two to three” car panels in the river, and other rubbish, including a television, had been dumped at the turnoff from State Highway 2.
The council could prosecute those found to be responsible, or issue infringements in cases where the rubbish poses a significant danger. Prosecution is rare, and often only used for repeat offenders or in situations where the dumped property created a health risk.
In 2021 the Ministry for the Environment considered proposals for a new waste strategy that signalled future levy rises. It said the increase helped to recognise the cost of waste, and encouraged people to recycle or reuse their rubbish rather than taking it to the tip.
It released a summary of submissions it received on how to minimise waste in New Zealand, and part of that was about proposed changes to reduce fly tipping.
More than 40% of submissions on the issue said there was a need for better monitoring, enforcement and penalties. Just over 20% said there needed to be more education and publicity about fly tipping, and other recommendations included fining companies for the litter that came from them, and better recycling options.
Many were also concerned that higher waste levies would have an “unintended” consequence and increase fly tipping.
To combat this, the ministry suggested establishing a fund councils could apply to for assistance, developing strategies specifically targeting litter prevention, and clarifying for territorial authorities how they could spend levy funds – including on infrastructure or services that prevented fly tipping.
The Waste Minimisation Levy rose to $50 per tonne in 2023-24, and will rise again to $60 in 2024-25.