One of at least a dozen dump sites along Whangae Rd before the November 23 clean-up. Photo / Peter de Graaf
One of at least a dozen dump sites along Whangae Rd before the November 23 clean-up. Photo / Peter de Graaf
A Kawakawa man who blew the whistle on illegal dumpers polluting native bush and streams is calling on the Far North District Council to take every possible step to stop the problem.
David Passey has been lobbying the council to clean up Whangae Rd since 2020 when he discovered akilometre-long section of the rural road had been turned into a fetid dump site.
When the problem escalated during lockdown this year, he upped his campaign and also contacted the Advocate.
On November 23, the council sent in contractors with a crane to scale the steep roadside banks and haul out more than 35cu m of mostly household rubbish. Some had to be left behind because it was too compacted or too hard to access.
At least half — and possibly as much as 80 per cent — of the waste could have been taken to a nearby recycling station without charge.
Hiab operator Jay Pihema recovers yet another sack filled with waste tipped off the side of Whangae Rd. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Passey was pleased at least some of the rubbish had been removed but was concerned dumping would simply start again.
"I think it's probably inevitable, until people get educated sufficiently that it's shameful to spoil our waterways and bush. The council has to apply its mind to what's an endemic problem across Northland and consider every possible solution," he said.
Those solutions could include a "free" weekly kerbside rubbish collection funded out of rates, and community education to make sure people knew what could be taken to recycling stations without charge.
Passey doubted many people knew it was free to drop off scrap steel, including whiteware. Many old fridges and microwaves were found among the waste dumped off Whangae Rd.
Public education was also needed to ensure people understood the effect on Northland's bush, waterways and landscapes.
"It's a shameful thing to do. Everyone I've spoken to [about dumping on Whangae Rd] is thoroughly disgusted."
The council should also consider using cameras in dumping hotspots, despite practical difficulties such as vandalism, Passey said.
David Passey checks out a load of dumped household waste including used nappies, cans and bottles. Photo / Peter de Graaf
In the 2020-21 financial year the Far North District Council spent $200,000 of ratepayer money cleaning up illegally dumped rubbish.
A council spokesman said, unfortunately, no useful evidence had been found linking the rubbish at Whangae Rd to the people who dumped it.
Much of the waste was old and decayed and the steep terrain made it hard for contractors to investigate it thoroughly.
• Anyone who witnesses illegal rubbish dumping in the Far North should report the location to the council by calling 0800 920 029 as soon as possible. If possible, they should also provide the vehicle registration and a description of those dumping the rubbish. Photos can be easily shared from a mobile phone through the online MyFNDC service.
Starting next month transfer stations and community recycling centres across the Far North will once again take most commonly-used plastics.
In 2018, the council slashed the range of plastics it accepted following a collapse in the international recycling market.
Since then recycling stations have taken only number 1 (such as soft drink and water bottles) and clear number 2 plastics (milk and juice bottles, for example).
From December 1, however, coloured number 2 (cleaning product and cosmetic bottles) and number 5 plastics (many food containers) will once again be accepted.
The two commercial operators providing kerbside collections in the Far North, Waste Management and Northland Waste, will also expand the range of plastics they accept.
Council chief executive Sean Clarke said that was due to changes in the international plastics market as well as new subsidies from the Ministry for Environment aimed at improving recycling infrastructure.
The ministry was also making progress in phasing out harmful plastics such as PVC (number 3), that contained chlorine and released dangerous dioxins, and polystyrene (number 6), that could leach into food and was difficult to recycle.
In the past inconsistent recycling rules between different operators and locations had been a major frustration for people who wanted to dispose of their rubbish correctly, he said.
The latest changes, however, would be applied simultaneously across the Far North.
