3 March 2014

Illegal rubbish dumping has become an increasing problem in Dunedin's forests. Animal carcases, broken televisions, old cars and household waste are being dumped.

Wenita Forest Products Ltd chief executive David Cormack said his staff had discovered a wide variety of waste, in growing volumes, on forestry land at Brighton, Berwick and Waihola in the past 18 months.

''It does surprise us at times just how far people are prepared to travel to dump rubbish illegally. They are better off paying the transfer station fee for more convenience, and it doesn't have the consequences,'' Mr Cormack said.

Under the Litter Act 1979, people who illegally dump rubbish can be fined up to $7500 if the rubbish is deemed harmful to health and can also be made to cover the cost of rubbish removal. In many cases, the dumping of non-harmful rubbish results in fines of up to $400.

Sometimes staff found evidence identifying offenders, such as bills with names and addresses, items that were passed on to the police, he said. The Dunedin City Council was also alerted to illegally dumped rubbish.

Mr Cormack said it was an issue for other forestry companies and private property owners, but little could be done to prevent it.

Source: story by Rosie Manins, Otago Daily Times. To read the full story, click here.