Illegally dumped rubbish - still a major problem
Few things infuriate Moreland residents more than people who treat our streets and parks like their own personal rubbish tip.
A whopping 1,400 tonnes of rubbish was illegally dumped in Moreland in the past 12 months.
As well as the obvious cost to ratepayers – about $140,000 a year in tip fees and thousands of worker hours – there are serious environmental implications. For example, cigarette butt filters, which can take up to 12 years to break down, are often found in the stomachs of fish, birds and other animals that mistake them for food.
Not only does illegally dumping rubbish have an economic impact on the community, it also presents a serious health risk. Broken glass from dumped TVs and computer screens endangers both humans and animals, soiled mattresses can harbour diseases and most concerning of all, dumped asbestos can cause cancer if the particles are inhaled.
Moreland Mayor Cr Oscar Yildiz said: ‘Although Council continues to pursue prosecutions, the amount of rubbish is unfortunately increasing every month.
‘We need the community to help us, not only by doing the right thing, but also by being our eyes and ears and recording details of dumpers to help keep Moreland a safe and clean environment where kids can play in parks without the risk of encountering dangerous and potentially harmful illegally dumped rubbish.’
The main items illegally dumped are analog TVs, mattresses, whitegoods, tyres, lounge suites and tree cuttings – many of which can be put out during the annual hard rubbish collection or taken to various drop-off centres.
The illegal disposal of items containing cancer-causing asbestos – found in plaster, vinyl floor tiles, roof shingles, stoves, water pipes, ceiling insulation and textured paints – continues to be a problem. Leaving asbestos-based materials on nature strips during hard waste collections, putting it in household garbage, or taking it to the tip is not only dangerous but a crime.
Council urges anybody who witnesses illegal dumping to contact Council on 9240 1111.
