Dumping Rubbish

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29154, 15 March 1960, Page 18

Dumping Rubbish

Sympathy must be felt for local bodies facing the problem of indiscriminate dumping of rubbish. The practice appears to be increasing, and offenders are difficult to detect. Farmers’ road frontages and drains are places favoured for depositing small loads of rubbish carried by car; and as the deputychairman of the North Canterbury Catchment Board (Mr A. T. Bell) told a conference of local bodies called to discuss the question, catchment board reserves and river beds seem to be an “open go" for dumping unwanted material of all kinds Rubbish in these places is an eyesore. What is worse, it can become a breeding place for flies and a harbour for rats, and so a menace to health. Rubbish in drains and river channels can cause flooding or stream diversion. This form of vandalism should be as much deplored as any other. The authorities are entitled to public assistance in detecting and combating it Speakers at last week’s meeting of local bodies seemed to hold city people chiefly responsible for dumping rubbish in riverbeds and outlying country roads. It should not be necessary for residents in the Christchurch City Council’s area to resort to devious means

of disposing of rubbish, as the council has an adequate collection service, and, for rubbish not easily disposed of by this means, citizens may take their own loads to the dumps on payment of small fees. Last year the Christchurch City Council acknowledged that a more liberal policy was necessary when it made a dump available for free use on four Saturdays. This method of increasing the facilities for disposing of rubbish was recommended by the works committee as a compromise to a suggestion by Cr. H. P. Smith that the council should hold a “ clean-up “ campaign ”, during which council rubbish trucks would take any refuse of any size or description left at the gate. For many years local authorities in other parts of New Zealand have deemed it reasonable to make a special effort (usually once a year) to collect bulkier rubbish than is regularly collected, sometimes employing contractors to supplement their own resources. Cr. H. P Smith could well revive for consideration by the present council the suggestion he made last year. The practice would be expensive; but it would remove the slightest excuse for indiscriminate dumping of city rubbish in the country.