Northern Beaches Council is on a mission to make it easier than ever for residents to offload their unwanted items and stop dumping.
And it is calling for community help to stamp out a problem that no one likes to see on their street.
We’ve all seen those piles of broken and abandoned furniture, clothing and household items which appear then linger like a plague – and often seem to grow as delinquent dumpers join the polluting pile-on.
But whether deliberately dumped by an end of lease tenant, added to by an opportunistic renovator or offered “free to a good home” by a well-meaning neighbour, it’s illegal. Whether it’s dumping on others piles or leaving goods out without a booked collection you could end up with a fine.
And it’s also a trip hazard for pedestrians and bad for the environment as it spills into gutters, pollutes local waterways and costs the community to have it removed.
But if you’re having a clear-out or moving and have items in good condition that you don’t want, there are plenty of options.
Pass them on to friends, family or neighbours or sell online.
Book a stall at a local second-hand market such as the monthly Bags to Riches in Dee Why or Avalon Car Boot Sale.
Many local charities welcome pre-loved donations, or you could offer them to the Library of Things for borrowing.
Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre accepts some items for recycling free of charge and is also home to several for-purpose groups whose volunteers repair and repurpose bikes, toys and soft furnishings.
For broken but fixable electrical, furniture, clothes and other household items book a free repair at The Fixery in Cromer.
Take good condition items to the quarterly local recycling drop off events where Council and local for-purpose organisations accept donations of bikes, electrical, timber, clothing, baby clothes and toys, homewares, furniture and metal.
If you have ’end of life’ items for disposal – book a free Bulky Goods Collection. Check what items you can leave out, only put out items the night before and contain your pile to no more than three cubic metres.
Every local household can arrange 2 collections in a 12-month period. Strata properties may be communal or per-unit collection, so do an online property search to check the next available collection date for your address.
Booking early ensures you lock in your preferred collection date, plus it gives you time to explore recycling or repair options.
Not everyone has up-to-date information about collections or illegal dumping, so educate your community. For apartments, use the free Council resources for common areas so everyone is in the loop.
And if you do discover dumped items on your local nature strip, or someone adding to a pile, call Council on 1300 434 434 or email them to report it.
Clean up notices can be issued to offenders as well as on-the-spot fines. Company fines are far greater andserious or repeat offenders. .
Collecting information if you witness dumping – names, car details, number plates, photos or videos all really help in your report to Council.
Useful numbers:
- Northern Beaches Council – 1300 434 434
- NSW Environment Line – 131 555
- Crime Stoppers – 1800 333 000
- NSW Police – 131 444
For more information visit www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
Article sponsored by Northern Beaches Council in support of environmental health
