The ACT Government is to work closely with The Smith Family to address concerns regarding illegal dumping at charity bins around Canberra, Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris announced today.
“The proposed agreement will see The Smith Family conducting daily sweeps of the city to remove material left around charity bins for an initial period of 12 months,” Minister Fitzharris said.
“This agreement is a new way to reduce the prevalence of illegal dumping at these sites, which has become a major concern to our community. I’d like to thank The Smith Family and the charity organisations for responding to my calls for a new approach to managing our charity bins. I hope this new model works for everyone in our community and enables charities to continue to serve the community.
“Illegal dumping not only places a burden on charities and Government to clean up after other people but it also leads to unsightly ‘mini waste dumps’ at our shops and around our town centres. It is hard to understand why anyone would treat their city like a personal dumping ground.
“Unfortunately the charity bins at Gungahlin in particular have some of the highest levels of illegal dumping in our city.
“As a result, a three-month trial will be put in place for Gungahlin. During this trial, The Smith Family will monitor the bin as part of their city wide sweep. If there is not a reduction in the amount of illegal dumping, the site may be closed.
“Charity bins at Dickson will be removed due to development near where the bins are located. However, the Vinnies at Dickson has a shopfront where goods can be donated.
“We understand charity bins can be of great value to charities and the ACT Government will continue to work closely with them to provide an avenue to support their operations. However, we also have a responsibility to the community and we cannot allow the unsightly and, in some cases unhygienic, dumping of waste around these bins to continue.
“We hope that the combination of daily sweeps by The Smith Family and the three-month trial period for Gungahlin will see a decrease in the amount of illegal dumping.”
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