Inorganic collections have changed across the Auckland region, and it seems some residents may not have received the message. Illegal dumping in the Māngere area in recent weeks has become an increased concern for local residents and community groups.
This particular site at the mouth of a small cul-de-sac on Robertson Road has seen the rubbish grow over a span of two to three weeks as illegal dumpers continue to add to the pile. Unfortunately, it's not the only one in the area.
Residents who live in the cul-de-sac say they've spent the last week chasing off people dumping or going through the massive rubbish pile. They say that they worry for their families' safety having strangers outside their front doors at late hours of the night. They say they have also tried to reach out to their local MP for help.
Despite combined efforts of the Auckland Council and Housing New Zealand (HNZ) to clear some of the rubbish already, HNZ say it has been an on-going issue since the recent changes to Auckland's inorganic collection.
From September to November 2015, the Auckland Council is introducing a new service on a week-by-week basis to selected parts of North Shore, Rodney and Waitākere. The new service for this particular area of Māngere, isn't due until any time between February-November 2016. The new service involves residents booking collection, and is provided on-property - meaning that inorganic items will not be picked up from the street.
The new system is funded by rates so there are no additional charges to book a collection, and the idea is to increase the amount of material that can be reused or recycled. More information from Auckland Council can be found here.
This illegal rubbish dumping is currently under investigation by the Auckland Council and Housing New Zealand as names of possible HNZ tenants were found on mail and items in the debris, names belonging to people living in Māngere and Ōtara.
People caught littering or illegal dumping can be fined from $100 up to $400 by the council.
Community members were onsite earlier today to investigate the magnitude of the problem, and to see if anything can be done from a community stand point.
Local community leader and CEO of Mangere East Family Service, Peter Sykes, says that while people may want to point the blame at someone, he says, "It is our problem in our community." That, "people will be getting fines for dumping and cars dumping have been reported," but that, "local community neighbourhood(s) need to find better solutions."
He also says that a local recovery site in Māngere is urgently needed otherwise this is what the community is faced with.
Housing New Zealand urge anyone who sees people dumping rubbish illegally, and can safely note down or photograph their car licence plates, to contact them or local police immediately.