HORSHAM Rural City Council is investigating a spate of rubbish dumping in the municipality.
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Local laws co-ordinator Maurice Rudolph said the latest incident involved mattresses being dumped near the transfer station on Monday.
He said he was utterly disgusted by the littering.
‘‘At 3.10pm on Monday afternoon a male attended the transfer station with a trailer that had a few single mattresses on board,’’ he said.
‘‘He was told the charge to deliver the mattresses would be $14 each.
‘‘Once he heard that, the man told the transfer station attendants that he was going to dump the mattresses in protest of the tipping fee.’’
Mr Rudolph said two single mattresses were found near the intersection of Golf Course Road and Kenny Road, Horsham.
‘‘That will now cost council ratepayers for the tipping fee,’’ he said.
‘‘I came away from this instance fairly disheartened that people can be that brazen to tell transfer station operators to their face that they object to the fee.’’
Mr Rudolph said he was disappointed by the spate of dumpings.
‘‘Last week we had a plastic container full of fat dumped on Clynes Road at Haven,’’ he said.
‘‘We are investigating that one and have a strong lead.’’
Mr Rudolph said despite tipping fees, the transfer station ran at a loss when it came to mattresses.
‘‘We have to bring in a big machine that chews them up and draws the springs out,’’ he said.
‘‘That costs council well in excess of $14 a mattress.’’
Mr Rudolph believed the dumpings were a sign of the times.
‘‘People have higher priorities and they think they can get away with littering,’’ he said.
‘‘The penalty for littering is a fine of $295 – much more expensive than $14 for a mattress.’’
Mr Rudolph said staff at the transfer station were unable to get the driver’s licence plate. He said the Environment Protection Authority was helping council with its investigation.
‘‘Anyone who saw a male driving a white ute, possibly a Holden Rodeo, in that area can call me at council,’’ he said.
Authority chief executive Nial Finegan said there was no excuse for littering anywhere under any circumstances.
Mr Finegan said people could call 1300 372 842 to report litter.