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Wauchope Gazette readers have been responding to the story that Port Macquarie-Hastings Council got $147,000 in grant funding to target illegal dumping.
Funds will be used to clean up 300 dump sites in local bushland, install prevention measures and for surveillance and education programs.
Keith Buxton suggested that the council should stop charging so much to dump rubbish, and said it costs a fortune just to dump green waste, which should be free.
Rebecca Wilson called for free tip tickets, and said they only get two a year.
”Drop the tip fees. Simple,” wrote Dirk Thruster on the Wauchope Gazette Facebook page.
“We get free tip tickets which is more than other towns. People are just disgusting. How hard is it to put garbage in the bin?” commented Janet Hughes.
Ken Healey said you can’t put everything in the bin.
“In other towns, the tip is free. It’s beyond a bloody joke - $28 for a trailer-load. They also charge for green waste,” said Luke Cantrell.
Ken Healey feels the council approach is wrong.
“There are people who simply can't afford $28 to take a load of rubish to the tip. I'm one of the lucky ones who can. I can understand why people dump in the bush. It’s not right, however the council could wave the fee,” he wrote.
Elizabeth Gough said Pappinbarra residents live on acreage and do not get tip tickets or garbage pick-up.
Bernadette Ramage said it was all very well for people who get tip tickets.
“Those of us who don’t get a garbage collection do not get tip tickets and are the very ones who should. Still, nobody should dump their rubbish.”
Rebecca Wilson said she’d like to see the rubbish dumped back on the culprits’ front yards ‘so everyone can see what pigs these people are’.
Peter J Chambers asked how many rangers the council employs.
Ken Healey said landlords get free tip tickets but never pass them on to tenants.
Gary Miles said dumping and tip fees are major problems.
“If they made use of some of this grant money to reduce or eliminate these fees, the problem would reduce and you don't need to employ rangers,” he added.
Paulie Elford wanted to know why the council even charge for green waste.
Lea Taylor said dumping in our state forests is a disgrace.
“Perhaps council needs to look at the insane tip prices to try to resolve this issue or at least start to address the problem.”
”Bring back kerb-side collections,” wrote Rebecca MacLeod.
“It's a great way to up cycle as quite often people will collect stuff before it goes to the dump!”
Daphne Gadd lives in Sydney.
“People were pulling up and taking the junk from me during our last rubbish collection,” she commented.
Karen Garrett had the following theory:
“We pay thousands of dollars in rates. Yet this council is one of the only councils that then charges extra for kerbside pickups. This is why the dumping problem is escalating. Bring back kerbside collections that are "free" ( included in rates),” she wrote.
Cameron Bate asked how can people not think of the future generations when they dump waste in the bush.
“Throw the book at whoever is. The council needs a reprimand for the lack of a recycling centre like every other town in the area as they are effectively dumping in the ground so many items that could be reused, hypocritically their motto being 'reduce, reuse, recycle'.
“Tip fees I think are reasonable especially in comparison to big cities. The return of the Kerbside pickup and an extension of opening hours at the tip may have a positive effect ? Surely an army of unemployed could be sorting, cleaning and fixing re-useable items dumped and both the sale of these items and the reduction in waste being transported to landfill could provide these services?”
Lyn Toohey wrote: “Bring back our free kerbside collection!”