Scattered litter upsets residents

Press, 19 April 1989, Page 6

Scattered litter upsets residents

By

PAM MORTON

Open piles of rubbish and scattered litter is earning the Lyttelton Borough Council rubbish tip a reputation as an eyesore and environmental risk. Residents have complained that rubbish and litter is being allowed to cover the surrounding countryside. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Christchurch Health Development Unit and the Department of Conservation also want to see the tip cleaned up. The problem has escalated during the summer, according to one resident.

The borough health inspector, Mr John Youngson, said the illegal

dumping of rubbish was compounding the problem. The tip was open to the public only on Saturdays. Mr Youngson said rubbish was being left outside the tip during the week. A fire ban in the area means rubbish cannot be burned off.

In previous years the rubbish has been burnt off but the danger of fire spreading to the surrounding hills has resulted in the practice being stopped. Mr Youngson said burning was not a practical solution because of the fire risk and pollution caused by burning plastic.

An increase in the number of plastic bags in use had added to the litter

problem, he said. "The bags get caught up in the wind and are blown around the area.”

Rubbish in the tip is pushed over once a week but most of it remains uncovered.

A management plan is being drawn up by Mr Youngson, with the help of officers from the development unit. The unit’s health protection manager, Mr Brian Predergast, said the tip had been unsatisfactory for “quite some time.” “We have been concerned about it as an environmental risk and have been putting together a management plan for the running of it.”

Mr Youngson accepted that the tip in its present state was not acceptable from an environmental point of view.

One option being considered is the appointment of a contractor to maintain the tip and ensure that rubbish is covered over in return for the rights to any recyclable rubbish. The other option is employing a supervisor to control the dumping of rubbish. Mr Youngson said it was likely that the tip would be opened to the public during the week to curb illegal dumping. Mr Youngson said he hoped to have the plan in force by the end of the Ihonth.