By Laura Michell
The amount of rubbish being illegally dumped at charity bins has soared in the past month, according to Hume councillors.
Councillors are so concerned about the unsightly mess around the bins, that they have requested a review of the council’s policy on the placement of charity bins throughout the municipality.
At the council’s April 14, Cr Joseph Haweil said rubbish dumping near the charity bins at the entrance to the Roxburgh Park station car park was particularly troubling.
He said the bins had become a “hot spot” for dumped rubbish.
“[The bins] are very close to the road and the dumping frequently results in the obstruction of vehicles that are going into the railway station carpark and leaving the railway station carpark,” he said.
“I would like to see those charity recycling bins removed from that location.”
Cr Jack Medcraft said the Roxburgh Park station charity bins weren’t the only rubbish hot spots.
“I went past the Uniting Church in Sunbury… they have got five bins sitting outside and the whole area around them was just dumped clothing, rubbish. People think it is a tip and they use it as such,” he said.
“These bins just attract waste and the idea of them is help people….but having them everywhere just helps people to dump stuff there.”
Council’s sustainable infrastructure and services director, Peter Waite said the council had noticed an increase in illegal dumping over the last month, especially of unwanted household furniture.
He said illegal dumping and littering cost the council almost $2.6 million each year.
“There is no excuse for dumping household furniture in Hume. Council continues to offer a free hard rubbish collection service to all its residents,” Mr Waite said.
“If people notice someone dumping rubbish, they should record the details of the offender and report it to council.”
