Do the right thing to stop illegal rubbish dumping in Kaikōura and North Canterbury
Rubbish dumping damages our environment, risks the health of wildlife and people, and the clean up is costing ratepayers. Find easy ways to dispose of rubbish correctly in Kaikōura and North Canterbury.
Car tyres, glass bottles, mattresses and burnt-out household rubbish. These are just some of the items our staff have found dumped at rivers from North Canterbury to Kaikōura.
Illegal dumping can result in a $1,500 fine
Dumping items like these is illegal and can result in fines. People caught dumping rubbish of any kind in rivers or on beaches are on the hook for a hefty fine. Last year, infringement fines increased to $1500 – double the amount compared with previous years. Cleaning up the mess takes up hours of our staff’s time and the cost to do this is paid for by ratepayers.
Illegal rubbish dumping also damages precious river ecosystems and puts birds, fish and people at risk.
Compliance Officer Garry Husband said when dumped rubbish is found, our staff “actively look” for offenders and any items at the scene that can identify them.
“If we find out who’s illegally dumping items, we’ll follow it up with enforcement action, which can result in anything from infringement notices to prosecution. We want people to do the right thing because they want to do the right thing,” said Garry.
Where to dispose of rubbish in Kaikōura
The Innovative Waste Kaikōura (IWK) Recycling and Resource Recovery Centre is a great option for disposing of rubbish legally for little to no cost.
- 82 Scarborough Street.
- Accepted items: tyres, mattresses, general waste, green waste, recycling, whiteware, computers and laptops, scrap metal, TVs.
- Check out the IWK website for more information.
Where to dispose of rubbish in North Canterbury
Options for legally disposing of rubbish in North Canterbury include:
- Southbrook Resource Recovery Park at 284 Flaxton Road, Rangiora.
- Oxford Transfer Station at 46 High Street, Oxford.
- Find out more on the Waimakariri District Council website.
Report illegal dumping: If you see rubbish being dumped in a riverbed or on a beach, help us take action. Note the location and vehicle details and report it as an environmental incident online or for urgent issues call the 24/7 hotline on 0800 324 636.