Anger as items dumped just minutes from recycling centre

Locals have been stunned to find items dumped in bizarre ways just minutes from a free recycling centre. FULL DETAILS

LOCAL representatives are appealing to people to use public recycling centres after bizarre dumping incidents at two northern Gold Coast sports facilities.

An old couch was last week found perched atop a batting cage at a park in Studio Village in Oxenford, while a fridge was on Monday afternoon dumped in a car park at the Helensvale Hornets clubhouse at Robert Dalley Park.

Theodore MP Mark Boothman said it was “mind boggling” the dumping had happened so close to a council recycling centre.

A couch dumped on top of a cage at Studio Village in Oxenford. Picture: Mark Boothman MP.

“How lazy some people are is just extraordinary,” Mr Boothman said. “There’s a dump within three minutes drive from the Helensvale Hornets.”

Division 2 councillor William Owen-Jones said the incident was “pretty disappointing”.

“We have a Helensvale Waste and Recycling Centre, which in regards to the fridge, is probably less than two kilometres away and enables residents to recycle that material free of charge,” Cr Owen-Jones said.

“It (illegal dumping) has always been a problem and it hasn’t got any worse, but if residents could make use of the free recycling facilities it would be far better than leaving it in a public car park.”

A fridge dumped in the carpark of the Helensvale Hornets rugby league club.

The Helensvale Hornets said a grey Ford Falcon ute had been captured on CCTV dumping the fridge. The club said the footage would be passed on to police and council if the person responsible did not return and remove the appliance.

In September Mayor Tom Tate said illegal dumping was costing council $7 million a year.

Cr Tate said a dedicated team of officers had been deployed across the city in an effort to catch offenders.

“For obvious reasons, we won’t say where these cameras are but anyone planning on dumping rubbish, furniture, building materials, tyres or any other items is on notice: you will be caught and can be fined or prosecuted,’’ Cr Tate said.

“The cameras can operate in extremely low light and record activities as well as vehicle registration numbers, to assist with investigations.

“Illegal dumping costs ratepayers around $7 million annually. It is a blight on our city and offenders can be fined or prosecuted.’’

Residents face fines of up to $2300 for illegal dumping offences, while penalties can be as high as $10,781 for businesses.

Follow @keithjwoods

Originally published as Anger as items dumped just minutes from recycling centre