Fly-tipping or illegal dumping has increased alarmingly in the district in the past two years at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the ratepayer, Gisborne District Council says.
“It’s sad to see how much effort people put into illegal dumping, the distances people will go to, the range of places they will drive to and the items that are dumped,” council solid waste manager Phil Nickerson says.
The volume of illegal dumping increased from just over 150 tonne at the end of the 2021 financial year to nearly 350 tonne at the end of the 2023 financial year.
Mr Nickerson says indications for this financial year are for 700 tonne.
“That’s double from last year and almost five times that of three years ago.
“It’s not just our beautiful beaches that have been abused with rotting carcases, human faeces and household rubbish — it’s our residential areas, too.
“This includes people’s private properties, commercial areas, roadsides and recreational areas,” he said.
Commercial and private land aren’t covered by the council. The cost for removal and disposal sits with the land or property owners.
The cost to the community for waste disposal is $485 per tonne for gate fees, plus collection costs.
“We’re aware Tairāwhiti has one of the highest costs for waste disposal in the country,” Mr Nickerson says. “This is partly because we have limited local landfill or disposal options and most of our waste is trucked out of the district.
“Council doesn’t set these charges but the ratepayer ends up paying exorbitant costs to clean up other people’s rubbish.
“On gate fees alone, this year’s bill is forecast to be $339,500. This unexpected spike in fly-tipping means this year’s costs will completely blow out the council’s annual budget of $70,000.”
Mr Nickerson says no area of Tairāwhiti is exempt from large volumes of illegal dumping.
“People are willing to drive out of their way to remote areas to dump rubbish while others use main roads as dumping grounds.”
Bags of rubbish dumped this week on the side of Stanley Road broke open across the footpath.
“From the visual, I would estimate there were about 50 needles and syringes.
“Not only is this a major concern but it’s also a serious risk to pedestrians . . . (and) to our contractors who collect this waste for disposal.
“If those who put in the effort to dump illegally put that effort into reducing or disposing of waste correctly, that would be awesome. We thank the many in our community who do the right thing.”
“We applaud those who do make a conscious effort to ensure waste goes to the right places and encourage others to make sure they dispose of waste correctly.
“Think about the products you buy and how you can reduce the waste that’s produced.”
Mr Nickerson says there has also been a significant increase in illegal dumping outside of business premises and charity shops.
“Waste Management staff spend around two to three hours every morning picking up and clearing rubbish dumped outside the front gate . . . rubbish bags, construction and building waste, couches, mattresses — you name it. This waste can some days weigh up to four tonne.
“Waste dumped outside after hours is not acceptable disposal.”
Stickered bags can be dropped off during Waste Management opening hours, which are 8.30 to 4.30 on weekdays, and 9am to 3.30pm on weekends and public holidays. Other items and waste streams must be paid for across the weighbridge during operating hours.
Mr Nickerson says the council supports community groups and businesses that volunteer to organise beach clean-ups and litter collections.
“We can supply bags, gloves and disposal. Please get in touch if you want to organise one.
“However, these are ongoing short-term fixes.
“A large portion of illegal dumping is often recyclable, which could have been disposed of at no cost.
“We often find washing machines, fridges, microwaves, cars, plastics, bottles and green waste.”
Scrap metal can be dropped off at metal recyclers where it will be disposed of correctly.
Waste Management in Innes Street has a 24-hour drop off for residential recycling for plastics 1, 2 and 5, paper and card, and tins and cans.
These need to be clean with lids off. If there is contamination in the drop-off, this often means the entire lot goes to landfill.
There are other outlets for green waste, concrete rubble and some building waste, but there will be a charge for these.
Mr Nickerson says the council is looking ahead and working with different groups on how to support Tairāwhiti and neighboring regions with a longer-term waste strategy.
This would include disposal options and local processing and sorting of waste and recyclables to reduce waste to landfill.
The council plans to improve kerbside collection services to help better separate waste. This includes wheelie bins and food waste collection.
There are also plans for delivery of a resource recovery centre and increased education around waste throughout Tairāwhiti.
For further information on what can be recycled or disposal options, check out What Goes Where or talk to staff at Tairāwhiti Environment Centre, which is open Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 3pm at 386 Palmerston Road
For more information about waste reduction go to the Recycling section at gdc.govt.nz
The council relies on the community to report illegal dumping/fly tipping by making a Request For Service (RFS). This can be done by — using the GDC Fix App (which can be downloaded on all smartphones); emailing service@gdc.govt.nz; calling the council on 0800 653 800
by Matai O’Connor, Kaupapa Māori reporter
A local man fed up with the amount of rubbish being dumped on the side of roads and damaging the whenua wants to remind the community that it is not on.
Muriwai man Tom Stone drives state highways every day.
Over the last few weeks he noticed a growing amount of rubbish left at the truckstop area after the Waipaoa roundabout heading towards Manutūkē.
He saw the amount grow and it featured all sorts of things — beer bottles, food wrappers, fencing material, carpets, even a bunk bed frame.
“Its not my job to do this but I think it should be everyone’s job. There’s a lot that don’t care and a lot that do care and like our place and we want it clean, not paru (dirty).”
On Tuesday night he and a couple of his cousins cleaned it up.
On Wednesday morning he took it to the Gisborne District Council to show them what they had done after becoming frustrated that no one had cleaned it up.
GDC said it would pay for the rubbish to be dumped.
