Council wants crack-down on dumping

Auckland Council is calling on Aucklanders to report illegal dumping with hopes of cracking down on the problem.

There are more than 18,000 reports of illegal dumping every year.

Council operates a 24-hours a day, seven days a week phone line where the public can report illegal dumping. After a report is investigated, council can issue instant fines of up to $400.

Serious cases of illegal dumping may also result in offenders being prosecuted under the Litter Act, with a maximum penalty of $30,000.

Tyres, mattresses and green waste are among some of the common items Aucklanders might spot illegally dumped in their neighbourhood. 

With the high cost to the environment from illegal dumping, Council’s senior waste advisor Jan Eckersley says Aucklanders need to be responsible with their waste and learn how to dispose of it correctly. 

“People don’t seem to realise that not disposing of waste in the right way causes environmental issues – green waste kills plants and spreads weeds, food waste attracts vermin, and hazardous waste such as oil, chemicals and batteries, contaminates the ground and pollutes waterways,” Eckersley says. 

Eckersley urges Aucklanders to think of the services offered by Community Recycling Centres – the Whangaparāoa Community Recycling Centre can take items such as washing machines, old stereo systems and other household items.

Items that are not reusable or recyclable should be taken to a transfer station for disposal.

Aucklanders can report illegal dumping to the council hotline 0800 NODUMP.