Hume Council takes tough stand on illegal rubbish dumping

HUME Mayor Adem Atmaca says rubbish dumping continues to be one of the biggest issues for the council.

Leader was taken on a tour by Hume Council last year through some of its worst rubbish dumping hotspots. The good thing is that, since the article, there has been an increase in reports. However there are still ongoing concerns, particularly with dumping at charity bins in Broadmeadows and abandoned trolleys in Sunbury.Mayor Adem Atmaca at Broadmeadows charity bins site. Picture:Carmelo Bazzano

HUME Council has warned it will show no mercy towards those caught dumping rubbish.

Litter is continuing to pile up across the municipality, despite a spike in rubbish dumping reports.

Last year the HumeLeader revealed ratepayers were forking out $1.5 million a year to combat Hume’s rubbish plague, with the council hiring four extra clean-up teams and setting up covert surveillance cameras.

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Mayor Adem Atmaca said it remained one of the biggest issues they were contacted about and said those caught would be prosecuted.

“We’ve tried to improve the situation through large education campaigns (and) local law enforcement, which has included court cases and people being convicted,” Cr Atmaca said.

From September 25 to October 25 last year, 77 rubbish dumping reports were made compared to 44 at the same time in 2013.

In the three months to December 25, 216 reports were received, up 22.

Over the past seven months, 17 people have been caught on camera and convicted in the Magistrates’ Court, while a further 98 fines were issued.

But people still aren’t getting the message.

According to Cr Atmaca, charity bins, particularly in the Broadmeadows Town Centre carpark, also attract huge amounts of rubbish and unwanted goods.

“While we encourage community members to continue to support charities, it’s important that people exercise common sense and donate their goods appropriately,” he said.

Abandoned shopping trolleys are also an ongoing concern, particularly across Sunbury near the town centre and around O’Shanassy, Evans and Station streets.

Trolleys identified by council are reported to store owners.

If not collected, they’re taken to council depots and held for 14 days.

Cr Atmaca said council would look at other avenues, including new bylaws requiring supermarkets to implement technology to stop trolleys being removed from the property.

“Having a clean city is paramount,” Cr Atmaca said.

“It’s always a battle to deal with rubbish dumping (but) by being persistent and introducing the right mechanisms, I think we can reduce the impact.”

To report dumped rubbish calling 1300 486 325 or see hume.vic.gov.au

Cr Adem Atmaca inspects dumped trolleys.