Households blamed for beach ‘dumping’

THE Great Ocean Road is becoming a great ocean dumping ground as illegally dumped household rubbish takes over bins meant for beachgoers, according to the region’s foreshore management body.
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) said overflowing bins and dumped litter blown across beaches was threatening flora and fauna and diverting public funds needed elsewhere.
Coastal reserves manager Rod Goring said glass, plastic, cardboard, paper, steel and aluminium cans – even an old piano dumped near the Point Impossible’s nudist beach – were taking a major toll on the environment.
“From pianos and televisions through to paint cans and asbestos, it’s unbelievable what people will leave on beautiful beaches that are so highly valued by the community,” Mr Goring said.
“Many may not realise that plastic bags, plastic wrap and food containers with food scraps are not recyclable and cause contamination.”
GORCC said the household rubbish, contamination of recycling with general waste and illegal dumping were all take “a major toll on coastal environments”.
The “huge financial cost” to local authorities from cleaning up the illegal dumping was taking money from other coastal management projects, Mr Goring said.
“Not only is this illegal … it causes overflow and litter on our beaches and is not only visually horrible but threatens coastal flora and fauna and the marine environment.”
Mr Goring noted the problem was at odds with the availability of waste disposal facilities at several coastal sites, allowing householders to drop-off of garbage and various recyclable materials.
“All coastal users, including campers, visitors and holiday-home owners, are encouraged to use these facilities and minimise the amount of rubbish that ends up on the beaches.
“The council also has drop-off collection points for holiday-home owners at Torquay, Anglesea and Lorne.”
GORCC said reader with information about illegal dumping or who wanted to report rubbish could phone the committee on 5220 5055, Surf Coast Shire on 5261 0600 or a Littering Hotline on 1800 372 842.