COMMUNITY members are being urged to dob in dodgy disposers after council staff faced a mammoth clean-up task last week.
Southern Downs Regional Council is hoping against a repeat performance of the huge mess left at the Forest Springs Waste Facility.
Council’s environmental health manager Tim O’Brien said staff were in disbelief when faced with overflowing bins filled with bulky items and other rubbish.
“As the photos show council staff found fencing wire, posts, scrap metal, weeds, boxes, bags of rubbish, plastic, tarpaulins and bottles in and around the bins,” he said.
“Staff members have advised this is not the first time it has happened.
“The bulky items disposed at the Forest Springs facility should have been taken to Warwick or other waste facilities capable of handling these materials.
“What we find is that the bulk items fill up all the bins resulting in other users depositing their household waste on the ground. This constitutes illegal dumping and can result in infringement fines.”
The clean-up at the Forest Springs Waste Facility will require a bobcat and an additional pick-up by JJ Richards.
“This week council also found that at the Greymare Waste Facility tyres, tanks and a ute rack were thrown in the bins,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Again these items need to go to manned facilities.
“In the end, the cost goes back to the community so we ask everyone to respect these council facilities.”
Mr O’Brien said council had previously considered closing the Forest Springs Waste Facility due to a series of illegal dumping incidents and damage to the facility.
“At that time, council appealed to the community to assist in addressing these issues and received strong support,” he said.
“We are now calling on the community again to renew their efforts in reporting such activities.”
He said there was no excuse for illegal dumping as very clear signage about where to place recyclables and waste were erected at all facilities.
“We urge people to take heed and help everyone to keep our waste facilities clean and tidy,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Council has committed a lot of time and resources into upgrading the network of these facilities and we are all contributing to re-using materials thereby saving items going into landfill.”
