Dumping at Opihi angers Ecan

JOHN BISSET/Timaru Herald

REMEMBER THIS?: Ecan environmental protection officer Dale McEntee holding a guide on how to dispose of rubbish after one of the worst cases of illegal dumping at the Opihi River.

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A BLATANT disregard for waste disposal has left a sour taste in the mouths of Environment Canterbury (Ecan) staff.

They are sick of cleaning up after people who, they say, are too lazy to take rubbish to the landfill and instead dump it at the river.

The latest instance is one of the worst, Ecan enforcement officer Michael Flynn said yesterday.

Some time over the weekend a large amount of rubbish, including a bath, chest freezer, washing machine, push mower and even a kitchen sink, was dumped along the Opihi River.

Mr Flynn said it was discovered on Monday morning by Ecan staff and had been dropped sometime over the weekend.

A large trailer or truck would have been needed to transport the rubbish.

"Someone must have seen it getting loaded," Mr Flynn said.

"It looks like someone's recently moved out of their property and instead of taking rubbish down to the council tip, they think the river bed's a tip."

He said it was the worst case one Ecan member had seen in his nine years at the organisation, but is an increasing trend.

"This one's blatant. They haven't even dumped it under the trees or tried to hide it. They've just dumped it and driven off."

Frustrated, Mr Flynn added many items could have been sold for scrap, or taken to the Crow's Nest.

"It's just the total disregard to anyone else's enjoyment. We will have to (take the rubbish away) quickly. The first nor-wester's going to blow it all over the river bank."

He estimated it would take about half a day to dump it all, adding up to the thousands of dollars and countless hours spent each year cleaning up after other people.

The rubbish was dumped along the north bank, about 1km west of State Highway 1.

"Some of the places where the stuff's been dumped, getting there's more effort than going to the council landfill and dumping it there," Mr Flynn said.

He urged anyone who has information about the incident to call the pollution hotline, a 24-hour service, on 0800 76 55 88. All calls are confidential.

Mr Flynn said on average more than 90 people a year are fined for illegally disposing of rubbish.

District services manager Ashley Harper said landfill charges were set at a cost recoverable level, meaning rates weren't needed to meet costs.

He said it was unbelievable people were dropping material at the river, especially when it could be taken to the Crow's Nest.

While some people thought the landfill charges were too high, Mr Harper said they were lower than other landfills around Canterbury.

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