Solutions sought for charity bin dumping

ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Katy Gallagher will convene a roundtable next Wednesday to try to find a solution to illegal dumping at charity bins, and has invited representatives of the charity sector who are being burdened with having to take rubbish to landfill.

"Charity bins are a convenient way for people to donate clothing, footwear and blankets to people in need. Unfortunately there seems to be an increasing trend where people are dumping inappropriate items which cannot be reused outside bins," the Chief Minister said.

"Illegal dumping at charity bins creates an eyesore for the local community and nearby retailers but also creates a large burden on the resources of charity organisations that are responsible for taking away illegally dumped items," the Chief Minister said.

The proposed meeting will include the seven current permit holders for charity bins, as well as government stakeholders.

There are currently 239 charity bins located across the ACT and permits for these are issued under the Roads and Public Places Act 1937 for a maximum period of 12 months. A condition of all permits is to keep sites clean.

Many potentially reusable larger items left outside charity bins can be taken to alternative outlets such as local Resource Management Centres, charity shops and second-hand dealers. Televisions in particular have been a recent issue due in part to the impending switchover to digital TV.

"Televisions can be delivered to the Mugga Lane and Mitchell Resource Management Centres and are recycled on a fee-for-service basis which covers the recycling cost. Recycling fees for televisions are based on the size of the unit measured diagonally across the screen. For example, a small non flat panel television less than 46 centimetres is $15," the Chief Minister said.

"The ACT Government is part of the new national e-waste recycling scheme which at this stage is due to commence midyear. Under that scheme televisions and computers will be accepted free of charge, but the cost of disposal will be built into the price of products.

"I look forward to meeting with the sector and hopefully work out some practical measures to deal with the issue of illegal dumping at charity bins," the Chief Minister concluded.