KEY POINTS:
Inorganic rubbish collections could be abandoned in Auckland City because of the outcry over streets being filled with clutter.
The amount collected this year is up on the last collection - indicating the service is popular with some - but other residents object to their streets resembling rubbish tips every two years.
The Auckland City Council is considering alternatives to inorganic collections, including issuing vouchers or setting up a resource recovery park.
The council's manager of environmental infrastructure, Rennae Corner, said setting up a hotline so callers could dob in illegal dumpers and scavengers was another option.
"We are conscious that a lot of people are not happy with the inorganic," said Mrs Corner.
Results of an examination of the service are to be reported to the council in November.
Dr Ora Pellett, a resident in Bollard Ave, Owairaka, contacted the Herald about trash piling up opposite her house for the last fortnight.
"It is a trash heap. It's outrageous, it's dangerous," said the social sciences lecturer. "And it's starting to stink."
Her home usually has a view of Alan Wood Park but, like other parks in the city, it became a hot spot for dumpers.
The street side of the park was lined with used tyres, timber, fridges, TVs - and more unusual objects including a discarded teddy bear, busted leaf blower, pink satin dress and multicoloured plastic flowers from a dismembered lei.
Large panes of glass had been off-loaded and bags of cut branches stacked on the roadside, both items from the council's banned list.
Neighbour Tiffany Lui said she had seen cars towing trailers stop in the middle of the night to dump rubbish.
"People were dropping truck loads of stuff," said Mrs Lui. "I thought 'oh my God, it looks tragic'. I was hoping no one would dump anything outside my house."
Mrs Lui said her property's gate was blocked by rubbish until her husband cleared a path.
Mrs Corner said items on the street were to be collected today.
She said the council encouraged reporting of illegal scavengings or dumping, and resident should gather car licence plate details.
Mrs Corner said no scavengers or individuals illegally dumping had been caught this year.
She said two businesses in Otahuhu had been caught illegally dumping, apparently unintentionally via a subcontractor.
"At this stage it is very difficult under the Litter Act to prosecute."
Don't Put Out:
* Building or demolition material, such as concrete bricks, rocks, stone, wood or glass (take these to the transfer station).
* Garden rubbish such as grass clippings, tree and hedge trimmings.
* Car batteries, petrol, oil or paint (take these to the Hazmobile).
