2 February 2011

More cameras to watch the dumpers

| johnboy
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Chief Minister Stanhope has announced more cameras to watch for illegal dumping at recycling centres:

The ACT Government has installed two more closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) at existing 24-hour recycling centres in an effort to curb illegal dumping and the associated clean-up costs, Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Jon Stanhope, said today.

This now means that all four regional recycling centres – Scollay Street in Tuggeranong, Botany Street in Phillip, Jolly Street in Belconnen and Bailieu Court in Mitchell – are monitored for illegal dumping.

Mr Stanhope said the latest cameras had been installed at the Belconnen and Mitchell centres and would help to reduce the incidence of dumping and identify offenders.

“Illegal dumping is costly to clean up and an environmental hazard for staff and the community,” Mr Stanhope said.

“The majority of people do the right thing but, unfortunately, some Canberrans have been using the centres illegally to dump items such as cooking oil, clothing, furniture, computers, TVs and whitegoods.

“These cameras will help to deter people from illegal dumping and identify offenders so fines can be issued. Signs are in place at each of the 24-hour recycling centres telling people that CCTV is in operation.”

Those caught dumping will be issued with fines of up to $11,000 for individuals and $60,500 for corporations.

Mr Stanhope said the community could assist by reporting illegal dumping to Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.

So we just need some cameras at the charity bins now?

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I suggest that if you see anyone dumping rubbish near these charity bins, take a photo on your mobiles, and report to police. I know I would.

Jim Jones said :

That’s right, Stanhope needs to look at the cause of the dumping: selfish d1ckheads who refuse to take responsibility for their waste, instead wanting ‘the gummint’ to do everything for them. I should add that these are usually the same people who think that trying to prevent people dumping their waste on the streets is ‘creeping Hitlerism’ (biggest Godwin of all time!!!)

2 issues: Towns usually have a dump: it one reason people pay a little thing called “rates”. Consideirng Canberras rates are really high you would expect to get some money’s worth.

The second is you’re “biggest Godwin of all time!!!” quote: you do realise Godwin’s Law is not a logical falicy, just an observation that sooner or later: rightly or wrongly, USENET forums will contain a reference to Hitler or Nazi’s.

If you are going to trash people for logical falacys at least get the names right: its ‘reductio ad Hitlerum’. Now references to Hitler here are unfounded, however Orwilian ones are quite valid due to it means more survelance (a common theme in 1984)

Trad_and_Anon said :

Apparently it has not occurred to his Stanhopeness that people dump now because of the fees, particularly for electronic goods. So his response is to install more cameras rather than look at the cause.
Municipal services should include waste removal; instead n some economic rationalists wet dream it is now becoming all “user pays”. Unfortunately, the users are paying several times.
Installing cameras is an over reaction – and one more step in the creeping Hiterlism we are seeing in all areas of life; where economists and their ilk respond to the failure of their mad, ideologically laced theories by ever more punitive responses in order to make them work. Democracy and liberty will not be destroyed in one fell swoop, but in a thousand cuts, administered by the Greens, economists and their fellow-travelers and handmaidens, such as his Stanhopeness.

That’s right, Stanhope needs to look at the cause of the dumping: selfish d1ckheads who refuse to take responsibility for their waste, instead wanting ‘the gummint’ to do everything for them. I should add that these are usually the same people who think that trying to prevent people dumping their waste on the streets is ‘creeping Hitlerism’ (biggest Godwin of all time!!!)

screaming banshee10:18 am 03 Feb 11

Wahhhh!!!!

Its your bloody waste its your problem, honestly if you dont want to pay $50 or whatever to dump your old TV then dont buy a new one. If you bought a cheap POS TV that didn’t last then thats your fault and why should the rest of society subsidise your life of waste and excess. If you dont want to pay the fee then stick it in your garage and let it sit there.

I’ve never seen a ten minute wait let alone an hour wait at Mitchell so I think you’re talking out your arse.

I think anyone who sees someone dumping along side the bins should take down their registration, and possibly take a pic with their mobil, these people need reporting.

Trad_and_Anon12:30 am 03 Feb 11

Apparently it has not occurred to his Stanhopeness that people dump now because of the fees, particularly for electronic goods. So his response is to install more cameras rather than look at the cause.
Municipal services should include waste removal; instead n some economic rationalists wet dream it is now becoming all “user pays”. Unfortunately, the users are paying several times.
Installing cameras is an over reaction – and one more step in the creeping Hiterlism we are seeing in all areas of life; where economists and their ilk respond to the failure of their mad, ideologically laced theories by ever more punitive responses in order to make them work. Democracy and liberty will not be destroyed in one fell swoop, but in a thousand cuts, administered by the Greens, economists and their fellow-travelers and handmaidens, such as his Stanhopeness.

Gungahlin Al said :

“So we just need some cameras at the charity bins now?”

My thoughts exactly…

Surely the charity bins could become part of the monitored recycling centres?

wildturkeycanoe6:52 pm 02 Feb 11

Then you’ll need cameras in all secluded carparks, unlit sportsgrounds, reserves, new under construction suburbs, the Cotter river area, Namadgi N.P., the Brindabella ranges, etc, etc, etc,
The problem won’t go away with surveillance, it’ll just go further away. Is they’ll drive that far to dump, it’s most likely because it’s too hard or too expensive to dump locally/legally.

I’ve got a trash pack. It costs me $3.00 per month if I put nothing in it, or $30 to have it carted away if it’s full. I probably fill it once after Christmas, and 2 or 3 more times throughout the year. No trailers, no sitting in lines at the dump etc etc. I’m happy to pay around $100 per year to have my crap quietly disappear with no further effort on my part.

And yes, the charity recycling bins are bogan dumper magnets. They should disappear ASAFP.

facet said :

The government should do everything for me.

I live in a townhouse complex and the body corporate gets a skip twice a year. Its certainly helped with dumping around our bins. Sure the body corporate rates are up, but the owners pay for that and generally the offenders are renters.

Also things like e-waste etc should be free. I believe a national thing is happening soon though, but seriously, if it wasn’t too expensive to dump waste, you wouldn’t get illegal dumping of waste…

Which reminds me – the govt is holding a review into its Sustainable Waste Strategy.

There are a series of public forums being held across Canberra.

More info on http://www.environment.act.gov.au/waste

Because i like to tilt at windmills, i will be making a submission. Hard rubbish collection will be among the things I propose.

I thought the ALP went to an assembly election with a promise for hard rubbish collection. This seemed to have morphed into second hand sunday, which is a neat way to offload policy implementation to you the taxpayer.

Gungahlin Al3:08 pm 02 Feb 11

“So we just need some cameras at the charity bins now?”

My thoughts exactly…

Those charity bins have got to go. The junk that some people dump there is disgraceful. Broken toys, televisions, household rubbish. Perhaps Workcover could investigate and deem them unsafe as they are usually on shopping center sites which are workplaces?

Bread and butter issues for local government include rates, roads and rubbish removal.
The ACT government has failed the people of Canberra with its absurd “No more waste by 2010” policy.
Recent posts on people dumping their junk at charity bin sites has placed the blame on the “dumpers” but what are the alternatives?
Well I own a car and trailer and can make the trek to Mitchell at the weekend. There I can wait for an hour to pay a sliding scale of fees based on a per item menu.
One alternative would be to pay more money for a rubbish skip (this is a popular alternative with my neighbours).
The Chief Minister of the ACT has had another bright idea and is suggesting surveillance cameras to catch and punish those dastardly dumpers. This of course will just move the dumping around the corner where the local government can pay much more money to clean it up.
One of the favoured disposal methods in my suburb is to toss the computer monitor/ TV from a speeding car.
Mr Stanhope if you can not produce a workable policy on this issue, it is time to give other mob a go.

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