The great Covid-inspired camping boom has also triggered a great campsite littering boom … and authorities are scrambling to know what to do about it.
In the popular tourist area of Echuca in Victoria, the council has decided to ‘go large’ again during the busy summer season, and bring in three super-sized skips.
Campaspe Shire Council General Manager Community, Keith Oberin said littering was a significant issue.
“While it’s fantastic to see people enjoying Campaspe Shire as their summer playground, any rubbish they leave behind is unwelcome,” he said. “To try and avoid litter scattered through the bush, council contractors will be deploying three extra skip bins for campers’ waste at high visitation sites.”
The additional skips will be located at Echuca East Boat Ramp, Torrumbarry Roadhouse and Gunbower Recreation Reserve from Friday, December 17 to Monday, January 31.
These skip bins will be emptied regularly and will be closely monitored for any misuse.
Mr Oberin said the skips should not be used for residential waste.
“The whole purpose of putting out extra bins is to decrease irresponsible campers’ waste that will otherwise end up in the river, in the bush and in farmland,” he said. “Every time someone dishonestly deposits their own residential waste into one of these skips, the more likely it is that campers’ waste will end up left in our backyard … litter not only degrades the environment but can cause serious problems for wildlife.”
Mr Oberin has previously said the council spends about $30,000 each year to support responsible disposal of campers’ waste, which included providing skips during the peak tourist season and free disposal of pre-sorted waste at transfer stations.
Earlier this year the Riverine Herald reported that tonnes of rubbish have been left at Echuca East Boat Ramp, the National Channel at Torrumbarry, Barmah National Park and along the Murray and Campaspe rivers.
One local man, Zach McGrath, took to his kayak out in the Campaspe River and, in a single day, picked up four large bags full of rubbish and a couple of styrofoam boxes along the shoreline.
Sadly, people’s waste extends far beyond the Campaspe River. On the Camping on the Mighty Murray River Facebook page, messages and photos of rubbish strewn along the river in Echuca-Moama and further along are posted daily.
Deb Monti, who regularly posts on the page, has had enough.
“What’s most concerning is the amount of rubbish left by campers who are just lazy and have no respect for the river and our environment,” she told the Riverine Herald. “The east boat ramp has a large bin there to use, but they just drive away and leave it.
While Echuca is responding to the litter crisis by providing more bins, elsewhere the thinking has been that actually getting rid of bins could be a more effective solution.
Looking at some of the dumped litter which you can vaguely see from the photo I wouldn’t be surprised that there is some local dumping involved as well.
Yes, I agree with Skarykitty: I thought exactly the same thing. Looks like a lot of household dumping!
Have seen it all over australia. It’s the locals dumping household rubbish.
The councils and the rangers know who it is