Concern has been raised online over the cost of taking rubbish to the dump after a pile of scrap metal, bottles and household refuse was found dumped on the side of a Hastings road at the weekend.
One Hawke's Bay Today reader said charges to use the transfer station and council kerbside collection bags are "out of this world".
"Not an excuse but it is no surprise that some struggling families choose to dump rubbish. Hastings District Council needs to view the transfer station as key infrastructure like footpaths, lighting and roading, ensure domestic use of the transfer stations is free, and include kerbside collection within rates. On that basis fines of $1500 could be levied on the few genuinely lazy dumpers," Tangata Whenua wrote.
Another reader wrote that the constant dumping of rubbish on the sides of the streets, rivers and public rubbish bins in Flaxmere indicates that taking rubbish to the dump is too expensive.
"I can remember when the dump was almost considered an adventure, whenever someone in our street went to the dump all of us kids would go too, mainly to throw stones at the sea gulls and it was free, now it's something many have to budget for."