Waste Management Review November 2021

Page 60

COUNCIL IN FOCUS

Council calls out rubbish behaviour HUME CITY COUNCIL IN VICTORIA IS FED UP WITH ILLEGALLY DUMPED RUBBISH TURNING ITS STREETS AND VACANT LAND INTO A TIP.

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arlier this year, the council removed 40 cubic metres of dumped waste from just one street and issued fines to 17 people believed to have contributed to the mess. Despite installing surveillance cameras at dumping hotspots and encouraging residents to call out bad behaviour, illegally dumped rubbish continues to pile up. Hume City Mayor, Councillor Joseph Haweil shares how the council is trying to take back its streets.

HOW LONG HAS ILLEGAL DUMPING BEEN A PROBLEM IN HUME CITY? Illegally dumped rubbish has been a major challenge for Hume City for many years, and unfortunately, several councils in Victoria are also facing the same challenge.

60 / WMR / November 2021

HAS IT WORSENED RECENTLY? Council has seen a steep increase in illegal dumping over the past four years, particularly in the dumping of unwanted household items. There has been a noticeable increase since COVID-19 lockdown restrictions started last year.

WHAT TYPE OF RUBBISH IS BEING DUMPED AND WHERE IS IT BEING DUMPED? The most common types of dumped rubbish that we find in Hume City are household items that don’t fit in a household bin, and construction and demolition materials.

Hume City Mayor Joseph Haweil at one of the dumping hotspots.


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