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New Fines Hit Illegal Rubbish Dumpers In The Pocket

Wednesday 3 June 2009, 9:00AM

By Kaipara District Council

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People creating unsightly, unhealthy messes like this will find it costly under a new scale of instant fines introduced by Kaipara District Council.
People creating unsightly, unhealthy messes like this will find it costly under a new scale of instant fines introduced by Kaipara District Council. Credit: Kaipara District Council
People creating unsightly, unhealthy messes like this will find it costly under a new scale of instant fines introduced by Kaipara District Council.
People creating unsightly, unhealthy messes like this will find it costly under a new scale of instant fines introduced by Kaipara District Council. Credit: Kaipara District Council

NORTHLAND

People illegally dumping refuse are being hit in the pocket by Kaipara District Council which has quadrupled its maximum instant fine from $100.00 to $400.00 – the maximum allowed under the Litter Act 1979.

The new fines, which came into affect on 1 June, replace the previous $100.00 instant fine with a graduated scale which increases with the amount of rubbish involved. Fines start at $100.00 for litter with a volume of less than one litre, rising to $150.00 for between one and 20 litres, $250.00 for 20 to 120 litres and $400.00 for more than 120 litres. Dumping animal remains in a public place or on private property without the occupier’s consent will attract a $400.00 instant fine. Twenty litres is approximately two standard supermarket bags filled to capacity while 120 litres is about the capacity of a standard wheelie bin.

“Council is very concerned about the amount of illegally dumped litter, especially in eastern areas of the district. It’s an eyesore, it creates health problems and is costing other innocent ratepayers more and more to clean up,” says Regulatory portfolio holder Councillor Brian McEwing.

“In the eight months to the end of February the Council has spent $18,000 cleaning up after irresponsible illegal dumpers. This is equivalent to the total budget allocated for this in the whole 2009/10 financial year. We cannot allow the present situation to continue and Council is working to identify the culprits. Hopefully higher fines will discourage this irresponsible minority and help recover the costs they are imposing on other ratepayers.”

But Councillor McEwing also warns that potential penalties do not end with the higher infringement fines, noting that substantial fines of thousands of dollars may be imposed for more serious offending upon successful prosecution in a District Court.”

Illegal dumping is where someone takes their waste and discards it on someone else’s property or on public property, sometimes because they are too lazy to dispose of it properly but generally to avoid paying charges.

In addition to general refuse this includes unofficial and unstickered bags left at collection sites, which are becoming an increasing problem.

Council also points out that bags must not be put out before the day of collection in towns and no more than 24 hours prior to collection in rural areas.

Also that the rubbish cages erected around the district are for official blue rubbish bags and the official old blue or new yellow recycling bags only.