Illegal dumper faces full force of law
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says a $1500 fine issued to a man caught illegally dumping rubbish should be a warning to others of the consequences of failing to dispose of rubbish responsibly.
The offender was charged with three separate charges under Section 15 of the Litter Act 1979 and pleaded guilty to all three. He was convicted and sentenced to pay a total fine of $1500 and $130 court costs, after the court lowered the fine due to financial hardship.
“Aucklanders have had gutsful of lazy and irresponsible people who don’t care about defiling the environment and expect others to meet the cost of clearing up their rubbish,” Mayor Goff said.
“In this case, the fine would have been much higher but the judge took into account the limited financial means of the offender.
“I have previously called for the law to be strengthened and for judges to consider under the Resource Management Act the imposition of community work. A penalty of spending weekend after weekend having to clean up other people’s litter would have been highly appropriate for this offender, irrespective of his financial means.
“Illegal dumpers are starting to get the message loud and clear that if they dump their rubbish where they shouldn’t, people are going to report it, our officers will investigate, and perpetrators will get caught.
“Aucklanders care deeply about our natural environment. They don’t want to see our streets, berms, waterways, beaches, parks, reserves, and native bush contaminated with illegally dumped rubbish.”
In this instance, the offender had offered cheap rates for rubbish removal on social media, but after accepting payment from members of the public and taking their rubbish, he then illegally dumped the rubbish in public places around the region.
Once the illegal dumping incidents were reported, then investigated by enforcement officers, staff were able to verify with complainants that the person who collected their rubbish and accepted payment for the service was the same person.
The prosecution followed an intensive period of investigation by Auckland Council’s Waste Solutions Enforcement Officers, delving into a series of similar illegal dumping incidents across the region.
Mayor Phil Goff says the $200,000 additional investment he announced last year is making a difference, enabling an 0800-hotline number, new CCTV cameras, new enforcement staff and other measures.
“Aucklanders are taking full advantage of the 0800 NO DUMP line. Calls reporting illegal dumping rose 7.5 per cent in the 2018/19 year to 18,395 reports,” he says.
Public awareness campaigns are also working to reduce illegal dumping. While the number of people reporting illegal dumping is on the rise, tonnages of illegally dumped waste are falling. 150 tonnes less was dumped in the 2018/19 year than in the previous year – a 10% drop in the amount being picked up around the region.
Mayor Goff asks Aucklanders to remain vigilant and report illegal dumping wherever they see it by calling 0800 NO DUMP.
“It’s great to see that volumes of illegally dumped waste are reducing,” he says.
“Things are heading in the right direction. But we won’t be satisfied until that tonnage number is sitting at zero.”
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says a $1500 fine issued to a man caught illegally dumping rubbish should be a warning to others of the consequences of failing to dispose of rubbish responsibly. The offender was charged with three separate charges under Section 15 of the Litter Act 1979 and pleaded guilty...
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says a $1500 fine issued to a man caught illegally dumping rubbish should be a warning to others of the consequences of failing to dispose of rubbish responsibly.
The offender was charged with three separate charges under Section 15 of the Litter Act 1979 and pleaded guilty to all three. He was convicted and sentenced to pay a total fine of $1500 and $130 court costs, after the court lowered the fine due to financial hardship.
“Aucklanders have had gutsful of lazy and irresponsible people who don’t care about defiling the environment and expect others to meet the cost of clearing up their rubbish,” Mayor Goff said.
“In this case, the fine would have been much higher but the judge took into account the limited financial means of the offender.
“I have previously called for the law to be strengthened and for judges to consider under the Resource Management Act the imposition of community work. A penalty of spending weekend after weekend having to clean up other people’s litter would have been highly appropriate for this offender, irrespective of his financial means.
“Illegal dumpers are starting to get the message loud and clear that if they dump their rubbish where they shouldn’t, people are going to report it, our officers will investigate, and perpetrators will get caught.
“Aucklanders care deeply about our natural environment. They don’t want to see our streets, berms, waterways, beaches, parks, reserves, and native bush contaminated with illegally dumped rubbish.”
In this instance, the offender had offered cheap rates for rubbish removal on social media, but after accepting payment from members of the public and taking their rubbish, he then illegally dumped the rubbish in public places around the region.
Once the illegal dumping incidents were reported, then investigated by enforcement officers, staff were able to verify with complainants that the person who collected their rubbish and accepted payment for the service was the same person.
The prosecution followed an intensive period of investigation by Auckland Council’s Waste Solutions Enforcement Officers, delving into a series of similar illegal dumping incidents across the region.
Mayor Phil Goff says the $200,000 additional investment he announced last year is making a difference, enabling an 0800-hotline number, new CCTV cameras, new enforcement staff and other measures.
“Aucklanders are taking full advantage of the 0800 NO DUMP line. Calls reporting illegal dumping rose 7.5 per cent in the 2018/19 year to 18,395 reports,” he says.
Public awareness campaigns are also working to reduce illegal dumping. While the number of people reporting illegal dumping is on the rise, tonnages of illegally dumped waste are falling. 150 tonnes less was dumped in the 2018/19 year than in the previous year – a 10% drop in the amount being picked up around the region.
Mayor Goff asks Aucklanders to remain vigilant and report illegal dumping wherever they see it by calling 0800 NO DUMP.
“It’s great to see that volumes of illegally dumped waste are reducing,” he says.
“Things are heading in the right direction. But we won’t be satisfied until that tonnage number is sitting at zero.”
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