Refuse stations lead to litter problem

Press, 29 May 1985, Page 9

Refuse stations lead to litter problem

Drivers who allow litter to drop from their vehicles should be fined and made to pick up their rubbish, the Christchurch Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee, heard yesterday. Cr Rex Arbuckle suggested that local bodies should create anti-littering regulations. The problem is the unsightly litter dropped by vehicles on the roads leading to the city’s two refuse transfer stations in Parkhouse Road, Sockburn, and Ruru Road, Bromley. Most of the litter fell off trucks and trailers which were not securely loaded, said the project engineer, Mr Arthur Vogan. The problem was exacerbated by the long distances and speed that the vehicles travelled. A relatively secure load could loosen in travel and in some cases rubbish was “sucked” out of covered loads. Left-over rubbish was also a problem, as drivers did not always check that all their rubbish had been

dumped before leaving the station with covers off, he said.

The completion of the third station in Styx Mill Road would alleviate the situation by cutting the travelling time for some rubbish-toting vehicles. Although litter officers are employed at the weekends, they have no power to stop the drivers of littering motor-vehicles. They usually parked near the entrance of the stations and advised people how to tie their loads on more securely, the committee was told.

Ministry of Transport officers also kept a look-out for littering motorists, but were usually much busier with other work, said Mr Vogan.

The rubbish is usually cleared by staff of the territorial council or the Ministry.

The Paparua County Council has written to the Refuse Disposal Committee

calling for remedial action to be taken about the unsightly litter strewn near Parkhouse Road. The council said that the problem “must be tackled head on” by the committee.

Cr Rex' Lester agreed, saying that the litter problem was created by the building of the transfer station in the area. Cr Lester said he had been shocked at the amount of litter near the Parkhouse Road terminal that morning. He suggested that litter officers be employed jointly by the local council and committee. Cr Gordon Freeman said that if the litter officers had no enforcement powers, the employment of joint litter officers would have little value.

The powers of litter officers had to be clarified first, he said.

A report on the problem and options for solving it will be presented at next

month’s meeting.

Compost Garden rubbish, river weed, and other waste vegetable matter may be used for compost at the landfill site. A scheme to produce compost from such waste material will be investigated by the committee and the Christchurch Drainage Board. The compost would be used to form topsoil at the landfill site.

Motor-cyclists

Motor-cyclists will not be able to use their improvised track at the transfer station site in Styx Mill Road for much longer. A fence round the site has been completed, apart from gates which should be installed in the next few days.

Cr Freeman had said that he was concerned about the proliferation of motorcycles on the site at weekends, and about possible vandalism.