Is litter really a problem?

Litter is a real problem in the Auckland region. When it rains, litter can be washed into the stormwater drains and into the sea. So if you litter, you might end up swimming with it at one of the amazing Rodney Beaches.

Rubbish can also be dangerous to plants and animals that live in the water. Birds or fish may mistake the rubbish for food and choke, while plastic bags can trap animals stopping them from finding the food they need to survive.

Test your knowledge of rubbish
in Rodney District

Question 1: How much does it cost to collect litter in Rodney District during the year?
Answer: It costs council over $1,100,000 each year for emptying and maintaining litter bins, keeping areas like public shopping centres, car parks, walkways and roads clean and collecting litter of the ground.

Question 2: Why do people litter?
Answer: Recent research identifies that people think that it is acceptable to drop litter because someone else will clean it up. Others will litter where litter has already accumulated, while some have no sense of pride.

Question 3: What does Council do with people caught littering?
Answer: Issue the offender with an infringement notice of $100.

Question 4: What sort of antilitter campaign are you running?
Answer: Most of the Councils in the Auckland region have joined forces to raise awareness about the problem facing us all and have therefore developed a regional antilitter campaign Come on: Be a Tidy Kiwi.

Every year a number of groups in the district get together to go clean-ups in the district. Last year more than twenty schools and community groups participated in the Clean-up Week and collected huge amounts of rubbish– a big thanks to all those groups for their efforts in keeping New Zealand beautiful.

Council also promotes Be A Tidy Kiwi at various local events in Rodney.