Opshops' dumping plea ignored

Dumping rubbish, broken and unuseable items outside second-hand charity stores could land people with a bill much greater than a trip to the rubbish tip. This broken bed and tyres were illegally dumped outside Gisborne’s Habitat for Humanity ReStore over the weekend. Picture supplied

ONLY days after a public plea was made to stop using second-hand charity stores as dumping grounds, a broken bed with stains and dirty car tyres were dumped outside Gisborne’s Habitat for Humanity ReStore at the weekend.

The call to the public by local charity stores featured in last Thursday’s Herald.

This was the second major incident of fly dumping at the Gisborne ReStore in the past week.

Last Monday, staff arrived at work to find a heap of rubbish bags outside the store, which had been ripped open and tipped out.

It all had to be taken to the refuse because everything was unsaleable. There was clothing mixed in with rubbish and useless items.

The community expressed plenty of frustration about the latest dumping on the Facebook page You know you live in Gisborne when...

One person had taken a photo of the bed and tyres to highlight the disappointment in people dumping useless items and rubbish on charity stores.

Others were also disappointed, saying the act was “disgusting, filthy, lazy and unfair” on charity stores because they would have to pay for disposal.

Some suggested that surveillance cameras be installed, and others thought Gisborne District Council could have an input.

GDC’s regulatory services manager Sarwan Kumar said the council does serve infringement notices to people found dumping rubbish illegally.

“If the business is able to get surveillance footage, particularly with a licence plate, we will investigate and issue a fine of up to $400.

“Anyone wanting to report illegal dumping can contact us on 0800 653 800.”