Wyndham Mayor Kim McAliney wants to rid the municipality of illegal rubbish dumpers. 84916 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM Council has recently been honoured with an award for the way it has tackled an issue that is often one of the most talked about in the municipality.
In addition to six successful prosecutions for illegal rubbish dumping in as many months, the council won the 2012 Sustainable Cities Resource Recovery and Waste Management Award for its Dumping is Damaging Campaign.
As part of the project, the council distributed fliers translated into different languages, erected billboards which encouraged people to report illegal dumping and prosecuted people caught illegally dumping rubbish.
Mayor Kim McAliney said the project had reaped major benefits for the community.
“We’ve had reductions of up to 90 per cent in illegal dumping in some locations, a large rise in the number of people reporting illegal dumping and over $13,000 in fines and costs awarded,” Cr McAliney said.
“This has improved the appearance of our streets and neighbourhoods and reduced the impacts littering has on our waterways and animal habitats.
“However, one of the most pleasing aspects of this project has been the strong input from residents.
“None of this would have been possible without the vigilance of residents reporting illegal dumpers and people choosing not to dispose of waste on our roadsides, nature strips and vacant blocks.
“Instead they use correct methods such as their free, annual pre-booked hard waste collection or the refuse disposal facility.”
Cr McAliney said the council would continue to find and prosecute people who illegally dump rubbish.
