Latest news with #illegalDumping
RNZ News
5 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Ratepayers foot bill for rubbish dumped along South Wairarapa coast
The local council described the dumping as "enormously irresponsible and disappointing". Photo: Emily Ireland Ratepayers will foot the $145,000 bill to to remove 26 tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish along on the South Wairarapa Coast. Environmental Protection Authority, police and specialist contractors needed more than two weeks to clean up waste dumped along the coast, which included 3.7 tonnes of scrap metal - bikes, whiteware and even a car. The clean-up was an urgent recommendation from the Environmental Protection Authority. "The overall cost came in at approximately $145,000, which is about $50,000 less than originally forecast," said South Wairarapa District Council chief executive Janice Smith. Rubbish is removed from the South Wairarapa coastline. Photo: Supplied/SWDC Smith said people dumping this amount of rubbish was "enormously irresponsible and disappointing", as items like bikes and whiteware can be disposed of at transfer stations for no cost. The council said illegal dumping was a serious issue, as it could pose a serious health issue, when it contained harmful materials, such as glass, metal and hazardous matter. It said the clean-up process also ended up being expensive for both the council and ratepayers, and on the environment, with abandoned waste damaging ecosytems, polluting airways and harming wildlife. The site is now permanently blocked off, with security cameras in place to monitor it. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Norfolk Island Council defends waste management amid illegal asbestos dumping fears
The illegal dumping of asbestos-contaminated material is creating health risks for those who dump the material and potentially to others, the Norfolk Island Rregional Council says. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King The Norfolk Island Regional Council says people on the island are illegally dumping construction and demolition waste that potentially contains asbestos. RNZ Pacific has been receiving complaints from members of the island community who believe the council has been hiding asbestos under mulch instead of exporting it to mainland Australia. Norfolk Island Regional Council acting general manager Philip Reid said asbestos is not being buried as part of the council's waste management operations. Reid said construction and demolition waste that had been illegally dumped was temporarily moved and covered with mulch. "This is due to the potential for the material to contain asbestos following unauthorised disposal by waste management centre users," Reid said. According to Health New Zealand , asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of many small fibres which are very strong and are highly resistant to heat, fire, chemicals and wear. It says asbestos can increase the risk of developing cancer and the main way people are exposed to asbestos is by breathing in air that contains asbestos fibres. A statement from the Norfolk Regional Council said the illegal dumping of asbestos-contaminated material is creating health risks for those who dump the material and potentially to others. It said exporting asbestos waste off-island is costly for residents. "One alternative to export could be the development of an engineered disposal pit on Norfolk Island specifically for asbestos waste, which could reduce transport costs but would require careful design to meet planning and environmental legislation. "This option would need to consider the initial cost to develop and construct the pit and also look at the implications of monitoring the pit in the long term." The statement said the council, in the meantime, is developing a community awareness campaign aimed at curbing the illegal and dangerous dumping of asbestos. "The current interim measures of maintaining secure storage during relocation will minimise risks until a permanent solution is implemented."
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
LDEQ offering $20,000 grants to local governments for waste tire problem
(Photo credit: Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) The state is offering money to local governments to help tackle illegally dumped waste tires. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is now accepting applications for its Waste Tire Pilot Program. It offers up to $20,000 per recipient in funding for tire-related cleanup, enforcement and prevention initiatives to address what LDEQ says is a widespread problem across the state. Examples include: Equipment purchases to support cleanup or prevention of illegal dumping; Overtime or labor costs for parish or municipal staff handling collection or enforcement; Site-specific cleanup of newly discovered illegal tire dump locations; and Installation of barriers, signage or fencing to prevent future dumping. LDEQ developed the program following a series of regional town halls the agency hosted last year to gain insights from local officials and residents across the state on how to address illegal tire dumping. 'This program reflects our commitment to practical, collaborative solutions for Louisiana's environmental challenges,' LDEQ Secretary Courtney Burdette said in a news release. 'We are proud to provide our local partners with tools that will help clean up communities, protect our environment and enhance public health in a meaningful way.' Funding for the initiative comes from fees the state collects from companies that dispose and recycle waste tires. To be considered for the Waste Tire Pilot Program, municipalities and parishes must submit a proposal by July 18 outlining how the funds would be used to address unauthorized waste tire disposal in their jurisdiction. Proposals can be emailed to or mailed to: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Environmental Services, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313. Attn: Dutch Donlon For questions or more information, call (225) 219-3388. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
Bizarre trend emerges in Aussie city as $400 worth of unopened food found in bush
Littering and illegal dumping continue to run rampant in Townsville, but in a bizarre turn of events, locals are now finding hundreds of unopened packets of chips and drink cans strewn across the bush. Adding to the wide range of items that are regularly dumped along north Queensland's Bohle River, such as furniture, tyres, shopping trolleys, and remnants of illegal copper burning, the unopened goods were found by two volunteers who often patrol the littering hotspots along Dalrymple Road and Hervey Range Road. Dave Dudley and Ian Matthews from Townsville Tidy Up, an organisation created to clean up the city, explained there have been four separate incidents of chip and can littering in the last four weeks. "There were all these cans there and I thought, wait a minute, most of the packets of chips are half full and they're all in date," Ian told Yahoo News, recalling his most recent discovery over the weekend. "It's the third time that I've found this kind of thing. My mate Dave also found the same sort of thing, it's probably happened four times in four weeks... It's odd." The littering has occurred across two sites, and the goods have been largely unopened. The few chip packets that have been opened have been discarded on the ground. "It's just been a mess of unopened cans and bottles and drink containers, and just for some odd reason some packets of chips emptied all over the ground," Dave explained to Yahoo News. "I reckon it's been more than $400 worth of stuff." 👷♂️ Tradies forced to make $100,000 clean-up after selfish act at national park 🚘 Hundreds of tyres mysteriously stacked up in family's driveway 🚨 Cops make 'extremely dangerous' find on ute tyres The pair told Yahoo News they had no idea who was behind the behaviour and why it was happening, but are both eager to get answers. Yahoo News reached out to Townsville Council after Dave said he has reported each incident to the council via the SnapSendSolve app. A spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) told Yahoo News it has received no reports of the littering incidents but warned anyone caught in the act will be fined $322. There were suggestions online that goods were stolen from a local supermarket or club, however, these have been purely speculative and a theory Ian has discredited. "I think a shop would have reported it after four weeks in a row," he said. Dave also weighed into the oddness of the situation, questioning why the goods were not being enjoyed at a time when grocery prices are rising, and Aussie households are struggling to make ends meet. "It's strange. I don't know why, if you have access to stock, why you wouldn't give it away or eat them yourself," Dave said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
19-06-2025
- ABC News
'Disgraceful' act leaves 200 old tyres in Isla Gorge National Park
Authorities have spent more than $100,000 and delayed bushfire safety work to remove hundreds of illegally dumped tyres from one of Queensland's most pristine national parks. The tyres were found in a deep ravine in Isla Gorge National Park, south-west of Rockhampton, during a bushfire in October. The Department of Environment and Banana Shire Council launched a joint investigation and finished removing 200 tyres this week. The ABC understands a 130-tonne crane used for the clean-up cost more than $100,000 to hire. Authorities believe a business or individual has been dumping tyres in the same location, off the Leichhardt Highway, for months. The national park is a maze of gorges and sandstone outcrops popular with bushwalkers and campers. Senior Ranger, Chris Job said the tyres posed a significant fire risk and had polluted a highly sensitive environment. "They all look very similar in degradation, so I would say they [were dumped] within the last year," Mr Job said. "We believe someone in the region knows who is responsible ... and we are asking anyone with information to call us." The illegal dumping has delayed the department's bushfire hazard reduction plans. "Isla Gorge had a large planned burn for this season for hazard reduction … with those tyres in the deep ravine it was unwise to burn," Mr Job said. "It's quite a large fire risk — 200 tyres going up in one single location would put a lot of toxic smoke up and is, obviously, horrible for the environment." The tyres will be sent to a recycler for processing. Banana Shire Council Mayor Nev Ferrier said the dumping was unacceptable. "It's just disgraceful," he said. "Whoever did this clearly has no regard for the land, our national parks, or the people who care for them. "The Isla Gorge is one of the most beautiful parts of our region and to see it treated like this is heartbreaking." People can report illegal dumping to the Department of Environment or their local council.
