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Meskauskas says differential pricing at tip a factor in illegal dumping Melissah Comber
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Maitland councillor has slammed the city’s tip fee restructure, believing it is responsible for an increase in illegal dumping. Councillor Henry Meskauskas contacted the Post last week to express his concern after finding a pile of rubbish dumped on the roadside at Melville, which he estimated would fill a trailer and a half. Council had cleared the rubbish within 24 hours, however Cr Meskauskas was still able to find cans, bags, tyres and an old trolley thrown into the scrub beside the road. He believes that differential pricing at the Mount Vincent Road Waste Management Facility, which sees users charged $262 per tonne of rubbish, and introduced at the beginning of the year, is partially to blame for the dumping, as users were previously charged a flat rate. “The cost that the tip charges is just a deterrent,” Cr Meskauskas said. “Add to that that it’s an isolated area, and it’s quite a distance from the tip – they’ve got plenty of reasons why not to drive there.” David Simm, Council’s Manager Development and Environment, said that the new fee structure was introduced to encourage people to use the tip, not deter them. “Council has not seen any evidence that shows this act was a consequent of disposal costs,” he said. “The illegally dumped garbage could have been put out for collection in the weekly and fortnightly waste collection services. The remainder could have been taken to the Waste Management Centre for recycling free of charge.” Mr Simm said that of most concern was the used needles and syringes amongst the waste. “Clearly this poses a risk to residents and clean-up crews.”
Cr Meskauskas with roadside rubbish at Melville
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