Illegal dumpers urged to stop
'Tis the season to be jolly and unfortunately it's also the season for a local surge in illegal dumping of rubbish.
Sunshine Coast Council Environment Portfolio Councillor Keryn Jones said while most residents were aware of the high costs of managing waste and did the right thing, some locals were trying to avoid reasonable disposal charges by illegally dumping and littering which passed on their responsibilities to others.
"Doing the right thing is far more cost effective for the community than doing the wrong thing as ultimately the cost of cleaning up illegal dumping is borne by all ratepayers- including the ones who break the law," she said.
"Ironically, many dumped items don't attract any charge at the landfills because they are recyclable.
"Responsible waste disposal is not very expensive compared to other essential services.
"Taking a full trailer-load of rubbish to any Sunshine Coast Council resource recovery centre costs $14, while a boot load is just $7 and most separated recyclable materials can be disposed of for free.
"Residents who deliver clean green waste at only $8 a trailer load can take away an equivalent size load of garden mulch for free.
"Council has an adopted waste minimisation strategy that was developed in consultation with the community and this is targeted to maximising the re-use of resources to improve the region's economy and environment.
"Our resource recovery centres are equipped to help us work towards these objectives but we need residents to aid the process by ensuring their rubbish ends up in the right places.
Cr Jones said mattresses were one of the more common items found illegally dumped and while they attracted a disposal charge, there were good reasons for that charge.
"Council has a cutting edge mattress recycling program in full swing," she said.
"It takes the 14,000 mattresses that are discarded each year on the Sunshine Coast and recycles the springs, foam and timber.
"This program provides jobs for people with disabilities who would otherwise not have work, so it is not only a win for the environment but has great social outcomes too.
"Given people pay from hundreds to thousands of dollars for a mattress that will serve them for a decade or more, it is not unreasonable they pay a small price when that service is over to ensure the resources are not wasted.
"There are armies of responsible residents who not only dispose of their own rubbish properly, but take the time to clean up after others.
"In contrast there are some who think they don't they need to take any responsibility for items they are finished with.
"To address that issue Council has engaged a litter management officer and will take firm action on illegal disposal of waste on council controlled land."
The illegal dumping of rubbish can attract fines of up to $4000 - a heavy price to pay to avoid a relatively small disposal charge.
Source: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/12/21/illegal-dumpers-urged-stop/
