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Home / The Country

The psychology of a rubbish dumper

Northern Advocate
13 Sep, 2018 10:00 PM2 mins to read

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There are many reasons why people dump rubbish - but none of them are acceptable.

There are many reasons why people dump rubbish - but none of them are acceptable.

The psychology of a rubbish dumper:

Since the 1970s, research from United States and Canada litter studies from the public and private sectors, have noticed certain "traits" among willing/prone "serial" litterers or rubbish dumpers.

One standout trait is juvenility.

Regardless of race, sex or income, those innately possessing a far-too youth-oriented, "some development is still needed to become an accountable adult" mindset, notably, the age 16–25 demographic — is consistently witnessed as the most willing/prone individuals to do waste littering and dumping.

Read more: Up to 60 tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish found in Northland
MP Shane Reti: Dumping of hazardous waste into Northland stream unacceptable
'Appalling' levels of rubbish down at Ōpua's shoreline

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Another trait chronic litterers appear to have is a penchant for not wanting to be inconvenienced — things must be done NOW, even if the something done results in reckless or substandard quality, or harm, even death, to innocents.

Personal freedom is yet another quality - the ability to do literally anything without any retribution or suffering negative consequences.

Furthermore, a person's poor mental health that shows "resignation and despair", coupled with limited to non-existent childhood home training, play roles that make for those severely lacking little to no personal control, to stop engaging in this societal, and illegal, activity, that breeds disease and injures, even killing, animals and landscapes.

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'Appalling' levels of rubbish down at Ōpua's shoreline

06 Sep 01:30 AM

Bill Edmonds' messages to reduce rubbish

13 Sep 10:00 PM
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