Joint councils target rural litterbugs

People who dump rubbish on the rural roads that divide the city and the Manawatu District Council are coming under the close scrutiny of both Councils.

The Head of the City Council’s Environmental Protection Services, Wayne Jameson, says the problem of dumping rubbish is gradually getting worse and both Councils are determined to identify who is littering the rural roads.

In the last few weeks the Councils have erected signs warning people that camera surveillance has been introduced. A mobile camera has been installed on one of the roads where rubbish is being dumped and will be moved regularly to other targets.

“If people are identified dumping rubbish through camera surveillance or Council staff patrolling the area then either the City Council, the Manawatu District Council or Horizons Regional Council will prosecute,” Wayne Jameson says.

Thousands of ratepayers’ dollars are spent each year picking up rubbish and Councils would prefer to use that funding for more effective purposes Wayne comments.