A QUINNS Rocks cul-de-sac has become a dumping ground ahead of the bulk rubbish collections this month.
City of Wanneroo recently posted signs that junk waste collections would start in Quinns Rocks and Jindalee on November 6.
Resident Shirley Hillary said people who don’t live in her street have been dumping unwanted furniture and appliances there.
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READ NOW“I had just come out of my lounge room and went to make a cup of tea in the kitchen and when I came back, someone had put a great big fridge there,” she said.
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Mrs Hillary said she approached one man who was offloading bulk rubbish, and he told her he’d missed the collection in his area.
“He had pulled up and was putting out all his stuff,” she said.
“Everyone is doing it; they are pulling up all the time.
“It’s getting bigger and bigger. It’s terrible.
“It happens every year – the trouble is this year it is worse.
“I’ve had enough of it. It’s shocking.”
The City’s assets director Harminder Singh said residents were only permitted to put bulk rubbish on their own verge and it could be put out up to seven days prior to collection.
“If a resident does not have a verge (for example, a rear duplex) then they are to place it on the nearest available verge; however, always speak to the relevant property owner before doing so,” he said.
“Illegal dumping, including dumping on neighbours’ verges, can be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 with maximum fines of $62,500 for individuals and $125,000 for corporate bodies (businesses).
“Under the Litter Act 1979 minor illegal dumping can attract an infringement notice of $500 or $2000 if taken to court.
“If it is your verge you have the right to speak to the person and advise that they are not authorised to place their rubbish on your verge.
“If it is another person’s verge you should document the incident, taking down their car registration and capturing photographs, and then report it to the City’s rangers.”
Mr Singh said the City had received 455 customer requests about junk or bulk rubbish non-compliance from October 2016 to present, and 90 about green waste non-compliance.
He said Mindarie Regional Council’s recycling centre took white goods for free.
“If putting out white goods for bulk collection, place items separately and ensure fridges are degassed,” he said.
“Tamala Park accepts many reusable items and recyclable items for free. Any unusable rubbish is received there, for a charge.”
Last financial year, the City collected 6676 tonnes of bulk junk and 3974 tonnes of bulk greens waste.
“Currently all green waste left on the verge for collection is recycled,” Mr Singh said.
“Bulk junk materials are sifted through on the verge, prior to being uplifted, to separate any metals materials.
“These metals are sent to a metals recycler; all other materials are sent to Tamala Park landfill.
“Any non-compliant items are left for residents to remove and dispose of properly, and a non-compliance card is posted in the resident’s letter box to make them aware.”
Mr Singh said the bulk uplift practice had not changed much in recent years and a review through the City’s Strategic Waste Management Plan, would inform how it could improve future recycling options.
In its adverts for collections, the City says permitted waste includes bags and boxes of garden waste, stoves, white goods, household items and furniture.
It asks people to keep mattresses separate from other junk, as those can be recycled while the rest is taken to landfill.
Items that are not allowed include tree prunings, bricks, bottles, rubble, sand, cement, fencing, wire strapping, flammable liquids, oil, paint, chemicals, pesticides, food, tyres and asbestos.
It also will not collect old gas bottles, glass, lead, acid car batteries, car parts, agriculture waste, e-waste or anything that is more than 1.5m long or very heavy.
Visit www.mrc.wa.gov.au for more tips on how to dispose of unwanted goods.
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