Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor calls out illegal dumpers

His call came after noticing three mattresses dumped beside the newly constructed section of Mary Street in west Goulburn on Wednesday morning.

"I just think what a sad reflection it is that some grubs around the place would do this sort of thing. It irritates me," he said.

"The residents who are dumping these goods are, in my opinion, lazy grubs, who are making our beautiful region an unattractive place."

Nearby, he and volunteers have assiduously cleaned up and restored the West Goulburn Bushland Reserve over several years, removing tonnes of rubbish in the process.

It's not the first time he's spotted illegal dumping on the roadway. Now he's had enough after what he said was a spate of mattress and lounge dumping over the past month. As he and Deputy Mayor Peter Walker travelled to Tarago on Wednesday, they spotted a lounge chair by the roadside.

"The cost of fees and charges at our waste management centres is not an excuse for illegal dumping," Cr Kirk said.

"Prices in Goulburn Mulwaree are very reasonable, especially when compared with other council areas. A mattress is $40 to dispose of, while a fridge or freezer is $27. The council also offers two free disposal weekends each year, with the general waste weekend coming up in November. During the May weekend each year you can dispose of e-waste, mattresses and household goods."

In May, residents disposed of 825 mattresses on the free weekend, a report stated.

Cr Kirk said the usual mattress disposal fee at the tip was not a money making exercise. A Wollongong company charged about $38 to recycle them, leaving just $2 to cover wages.

Despite the free weekend, people were still dumping mattresses around Governors Hill and Mount Gray.

He encouraged people to call out the "dumpers," take a photo of the car's number plate and report them to police.

Fines and penalties for illegal dumping can be up to $7500 for individuals, and $15,000 for corporations.

"People have to remember that this is our community and we're trying to pull things together in an orderly way," he said.

"The majority of people cop the (tip) charges but why should they have to subsidise those who just can't be bothered to dispose of things in the correct way?"

For more information on the council's waste and recycling fees and charges, or Council clean-up weekends, visit www.goulburn.nsw.gov.au or drop into customer service at the Civic Centre in Bourke Street.

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