Crackdown on dumping

Illegal dumping at Woodford has prompted a crackdown by Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Councillor Tony Latter (Div 12) raised the issue at this week’s Council meeting, saying lazy people have been dumping tyres, mattresses, household rubbish and other waste within 500 metres of the Woodford Transfer Station.

Cr Latter says he visited bushland behind the Woodford Transfer Station following reports of illegal dumping.

“What I found was deplorable,” he says.

He shared photographs of tyres, mattresses, couches, cardboard, wooden palings and general rubbish strewn throughout the bushland.

Epitome of laziness

“There is no excuse for illegal dumping, and I can’t speak strongly enough against what is happening in this location,” he says.

“To me this is the epitome of self-centredness, laziness and disregard for the environment and community.”

People caught dumping rubbish face State Government fines of up to $133,000.

Clean up planned

Councillors voted remove the rubbish and restore the bushland, as well as to investigate ways of deterring illegal dumping.

Cr Latter says the Woodford Transfer Station can’t accept larger items, which may have contributed to some of the items being dumped.

But he says the station risks exceeding its annual State Government-imposed limit of accepting 5000 tonnes of waste a year if bulky goods are allowed.

“You will see that Woodford sits the furthest from a major transfer station that excepts large items and I believe this is one factor for the increase in dumping.

“(But) if we were to except large items at Woodford and were to exceed the limit, we would risk the Transfer Station being closed,” he says.

Alternative options

Councillors also voted to investigate options to help residents dispose of larger items in the Woodford Waste Transfer Station catchment area and bring findings back to a Council briefing, as well as to investigate ways of deterring illegal dumping throughout the region.

A Council spokesman urged anyone with information about illegal dumping to report it so incidents can be investigated.

Bulky Waste collection

Moreton Bay Region Mayor Peter Flannery says there’s no excuse for illegal dumping, with Council offering a reasonably priced Bulky Waste Collection service.

“Council’s online bulky waste collection service will come straight to your front door to remove anything from an old washing machine to overgrown backyard vegetation,” Mayor Flannery says.

“This is a paid on-demand service that helps residents remove large items from their home that don’t fit into their standard wheelie bin.”

Large items such as lounges, cupboards and furniture can be taken to Council’s major waste management sites at Dakabin, Bunya and Caboolture.

To book a collection service click here.

To report illegal dumping, phone Council on 3205 0555.

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