Tonnes of rubbish cleared from dump site

You could fill a house with the rubbish that has been dumped at Mountain Rd - literally.
Yesterday the illegal dumping site was completely cleaned up for the first time in three years, with two tonnes of rubbish cleared out in the morning alone.
Among the rubbish hauled out with a grapple hook was a lounge suite, mattress and even the kitchen sink. Add to that the computers, chairs, tables and laundry basket and you could have furnished a home.
There were also numerous glass bottles, empty beer cans, cardboard, books, tyres, disposable nappies and possum carcasses. Some of the rubbish was even in paid-for council bags.
Rotorua District Council solid waste manager Roselyn Sievers said personal information had been found among the litter, and the council would be pursuing it.
"We've also been in talks with police and they will carry out random patrols up there in the evenings. They're also keen to hear from anyone who sees dumping going on," she said.
"We've had lots of complaints. It's a place where a lot of overseas visitors are directed to get a good view of Rotorua, but it's disgusting.
"We've cleared it and we've cleared it, and I still don't understand the logic of dumping there, especially when some have already paid for their rubbish bags."
Using a truck-mounted crane the team of workers used a grapple hook to pull out the big items. Then once they were out of the way they scrambled down the side of the bank to fill numerous bags of rubbish. A giant bucket was then lowered down to throw this rubbish in to make it easier to bring the waste up the hill.
Mountain Rd resident Lynda Pussell said, "I've lived up Mountain Rd for 15 years and have always taken relatives and friends from out of town to see the view, but now it's quite embarrassing.
"I don't know what council can do; people will do it again."
Keep Rotorua Beautiful co-ordinator Christine Findon said most of what was dumped could have been recycled.
"Our recycling centre takes all plastics as opposed to kerbside which will normally only take plastics one and two," she said.
"All paper, cardboard, glass bottles and metal is also accepted at the in-town recycling centre.
"It doesn't cost anything to use this service and is conveniently located in town near two large supermarkets. There is also a small retail shop where goods can be left to be sold on."
The last time Mountain Rd was cleaned up was in August 2006, just before the UCI World Mountain Bike Championships, and it cost ratepayers $7000.