About 1500 Lismore people line up for free tip day

FREE Tip Day has yet again proved popular with an estimated 1500 loads of rubbish dumped yesterday at the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre.

Lines were long at Lismore tip s free tip day on Sunday. Picture: Nolan Verheij-Full

FREE Tip Day has yet again proved popular with an estimated 1500 loads of rubbish dumped yesterday at the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre.

"It is probably one of the biggest we have had to date. It was equivalent to last February," Kevin Trustum said.

Co-ordinator of Lismore City Council's Waste Operations, Mr Trustum said there were more than 2000 "transactions" on the day, which equates to about 1500 cars visiting the facility.

Mr Trustum said to dump an average ute load of mixed waste normally costs about $27-$30 but yesterday residents could offload their rubbish for free.

"Some drivers turn around and take a couple of loads during the day," he said.

Council provides four Free Tip Days each year and prepares for the rush by making sure there is plenty of room for the influx of rubbish.

Despite a steady drizzle of rain, at 11.30am there was a queue of eager tippers backed up almost 100 meters down Wyrallah Rd with staff called on to control traffic.

The Free Tip Days were introduced after council ceased the hard-waste kerbside collections.

Mr Trustum said visiting every street was an expensive operation and the rubbish still had to be distributed to the right place.

"This is more economical for council," Mr Trustum said.