By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM’S Mayor John Menegazzo has denied claims that the high cost of taking rubbish to the tip is a reason behind people illegally dumping rubbish in the municipality.
Residents complained to Star that every time they take a trailer load to the tip, they could be charged more than $100, making it uneconomical to dispose of rubbish properly.
“He (Cr John Menegazzo) is wondering why people are dumping rubbish in their own backyards, but maybe if the prices at the tip were a bit more reasonable people wouldn’t do it as much,” Charlie told Star.
“I don’t dump rubbish but every time I go to the tip it costs me a minimum of $60 and up to $120.”
But Cr Menegazzo said dumping would still be an issue even if the fees were lowered.
“People do get vouchers and there is a twice yearly pick up,” Cr Menegazzo said.
“Dumping rubbish has been around since day dot, so it hasn’t suddenly come out of the woodwork just because of tip prices.”
Cr Menegazzo, who spoke about wanting residents to take more pride in their municipality when he was voted in last year, said that some people went out of their way to dump rubbish in vacant blocks or on walking trails.
“When people say that it is too dear to go to the tip, how about a bit of pride in your city,” he said.
“Really, the sort of people that go and do that, whether it costs them $20 to go to the tip or $10 to go to the tip, they’re still going to dump rubbish.”
