It’s not rocket science.  

However, if you walk along the alleyways of town, especially near local charities like the Australian Red Cross shop and The Smith Family shop, you’ll notice a great deal of litter. 

Not your average food wrappings, tissues or coffee cups, but sofas and mattresses.  

In the words of Mayor Bob Kirk, “it’s embarrassing”.  

“I acknowledge that illegal dumping is occurring with more frequency than anyone would like to see.   

“I’m not happy with the amount of rubbish we have.” 

One big question is why people are doing it and there are a couple of theories floating around, including one from the Manager of Red Cross Goulburn Shane Mitchell and Mission Australia’s area manager of South Eastern NSW and ACT, Daniel Strickland.  

“Some people take out the bins to see what is inside and don’t bother putting the rubbish back in,” Mr Mitchell said. 

“People are dumping, thinking they’re donating, but a lot are items that charities can’t use,” Mr Strickland said.  

There is one other possible reason Mr Strickland alluded to which cannot be ignored.  

People may be dumping because they don’t want to pay for taking rubbish out to the tip. 

“Having lived in Sydney, the prices here in Goulburn aren’t too expensive,” Mr Strickland.   

A Goulburn Mulwaree Council spokesperson said the tip fees go back into providing services for the community.

“Providing waste services incurs a significant cost, including the operation of the Goulburn Waste Management Centre seven days a week, plus the Marulan and Tarago facilities.”

Unfortunately, the issue is having plenty of financial impacts on local charities.  

Mr Mitchell said he had to move the rubbish to the tip himself and pay for it. 

Mission were spending thousands of dollars a year getting rid of other people’s rubbish, while the Smith Family faced quite a bit too.  

“Illegal dumping creates approximately a million dollars per year in unnecessary expense for us,” general manager for The Smith Family’s Recycling Operation Rick Mulhall said. 

There are ways where this issue can be prevented including education and CCTV cameras, but ultimately, it is down to the community.  

“The issue can only be improved by way of education and change of attitude,” Cr Kirk said.

Meantime, Mr Strickland said that residents had the responsibility to dispose of rubbish as they had accumulated it. 

The council does assist charities with the issue whenever they can.

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