Litterbugs illegally dumping rubbish on the peninsula be warned – the Thames-Coromandel District Council and the mayor are out to get you.

Fines of up to $20,000 are available to council for anyone caught illegally dumping rubbish anywhere in the district, as well as instant on the spot $400 fines for littering.

With the help of vigilant residents in the communities there are eyes everywhere, says TCDC Bylaws and Compliance team leader Steve Hart

'We are cracking down. Our Compliance Officers are regularly monitoring known dumping sites and anyone identified for littering or dumping rubbish in our district will face legal action and a ‘name and shame' through the courts.

'When fly dumping is occurring on private property, our compliance officers can investigate and issue infringements under the Litter Act 1979 once an offender can be identified and a case proven.”

Members of the Manaia community have reported their exasperation at the scourge of illegal rubbish dumping, as well as dumping of furniture and appliances on their land. Council is now working with them to help get a prosecution and stop further offending.

Steve also warns council staff will go to the lengths necessary to investigate who is responsible for illegal rubbish, including picking through individual items and wading in waterways to find evidence of the perpetrators.

Mayor Sandra Goudie is among those who're heartily sick of illegal dumping and takes the offending personally.

'There's a zero tolerance on any form of littering and dumping, and if somebody has dumped a rubbish bag on the side of the road, I'm not above going through it and finding out who it is, shoving it on their doorstep and giving them a wake-up call.

'Rubbish and recycling collections have been stepped up for the peak summer season and the opening hours for our Refuse Transfer Stations have also increased so there are no excuses.”

Any private property owner experiencing illegal rubbish dumping should lodge a complaint through council's ‘request for service' system by contacting the customer service team by email [email protected] or phone 07 868 0200.

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR RUBBISH

The seven refuse transfer stations across the district have extended hours over the summer, with the smaller transfer stations in Coromandel, Matarangi, Tairua and Pauanui now open seven days a week until Sunday, February 26, as well as being open later on weekends and public holidays.

The larger stations in Whitianga, Whangamata and Thames are open seven days a week, as usual, but also have extended weekend and public holiday opening hours. All seven stations' non-summer hours resume on February 27.

While in most areas of the Coromandel, extra weekly rubbish and recycling collections are also taking place and will run until February 11.

Collection days remain the same during the holidays, but are scheduled for a day later after Auckland Anniversary and Waitangi Day holidays at the end of January and early February.

Glass can be left for pick-up in any sturdy crate, it doesn't have to be a council-branded crate. Don't use cardboard boxes as these can get wet and break when they're lifted, and don't use crates that are so big that when they're full they can't be lifted by our contractors.

If you're leaving the district before rubbish and recycling pick-up day in your area, you can leave rubbish in pre-paid blue Council bags and recycling for free at any of council's rubbish transfer stations.

To find the rubbish transfer stations' opening hours and locations or for the kerbside collection schedule visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council website.

Furniture dumped in the Waiwawa River on the Tapu-Coroglen Road back in 2015. File Photo.