Illegal dumping is rife in Gisborne and across New Zealand as ratepayers constantly foot the bill for waste abandoned on beaches, roadsides, parks and city streets.
A trailer load of rubbish collected by East Coast Ranger Graeme Atkins in July last year
Photo: Supplied / The Gisborne Herald
Gisborne district councillors say local authorities have few options after clearing trailer-loads of rubbish, including mattresses and broken TVs. They can either slap someone with a $400 fine and hope it gets paid, or take the perpetrator to court.
Gisborne councillors are calling for changes to the Litter Act 1979 to give local authorities more tools to deal with "fly-tippers".