Editorial: Fines could clear dump

The Paramount Plaza bins cleared by Savemart, a national chain of recycled clothes outlets with a branch at Kamo, are regularly surrounded by bags of junk.

One person's rubbish can be another person's treasure.

But there seem to be few jewels sparkling among the items left outside clothing bins at Tikipunga.

In the past few weeks, several clothing bins around Whangarei have appeared to be full, with items left outside the bins by well-meaning donors. Items including golf clubs, blankets and seats have been spotted in Percy St, Mill Rd and Tikipunga.

However, in Tikipunga, it seems that the items left near two bins at Paramount Plaza have little to do with charity and more to do with opportunity.

An opportunity to dump rubbish unnoticed.

The Paramount Plaza bins cleared by Savemart, a national chain of recycled clothes outlets with a branch at Kamo, are regularly surrounded by bags of junk. Old mattresses and broken furniture have been dumped, and human "seagulls" pick through the items, spreading the mess, each week.

Savemart is cleaning the mess up, but has ended up driving the rubbish ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

Are expensive tip fees driving this? Unlikely; many of the items left at Tikipunga could be disposed of through Whangarei's weekly urban rubbish collection.

Ignorance of Savemart's collection policy and a general lack of civic pride is the problem.

Clear communication of the former on Savemart bins and financial penalties for the latter (the area is under camera surveillance) should clean up the problem.