Hard waste dumped across Whittlesea, Nillumbik as tips close
Mounds of waste are being dumped onto vacant blocks and nature strips in the dead of night as the coronavirus pandemic forces the closure of several Melbourne tips. And these areas are being hit hardest.
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Mounds of waste are being dumped onto vacant blocks and nature strips in the dead of night as the coronavirus pandemic forces the closure of tips across Whittlesea, Nillumbik and Banyule.
Thomastown has emerged as one of the hardest hit areas, with an empty parcel of land off Alexander Drive used as a makeshift tip.
Magda Sudrievski said she had been woken every night this week by desperate dumpers illegally offloading building rubble, old furniture and piles of wood.
“One night they smashed the gate and put everything from the ute onto the ground and left,” she said.
“It was every night this week, maybe because they have no where to go and so no-one can see.
“In the morning I always see more and more rubbish — it’s not healthy for maybe fire and breathing.”
Leader also noticed one Thomastown home’s whole nature strip had been completely covered with hard waste.
The Darebin Drive eyesore was so large bits of rubbish were blocking the footpath and dropping onto the roadside.
Whittlesea Council director of city, transport and presentation Helen Sui said while waste and recycling tips were shut to the public, waste disposal remained an essential service.
“Kerbside garbage, recycling and green waste collections are continuing,” she said.
“Residents can also still book a hard waste collection twice a year, book bundled branch collections as needed and Whitegoods Recyclers offers a free collection service for household whitegoods.”
Ms Sui reminded ratepayers dumping waste was illegal and culprits faced “significant” fines.
Diamond Creek resident Ben Phillips said he had also noticed similar problems across Nillumbik.
He said his trailer full of building waste was denied at the Wollert tip on Monday.
“I asked where else I can take it, the response was nowhere,” Mr Phillips said.
“This dumping will become more common unless they can sort it out.
“My solution was to call a bin company and took my trailer to their yard to dump it directly into their bin — but for most people this wouldn’t be an easy option.”
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While the Recycling & Recovery Centre, and its reuse shop, in Plenty was closed, Nillumbik Council was also continuing all kerbside waste collection services, including bin and hard waste collection.