Litter bugs volunteers

By Paul Dunlop
A SLACK attitude towards littering has angered communityspirited residents.
Cleanup volunteers trying to keep Pakenham beautiful spoke out last week over some people’s disregard for proper litter disposal after more than 60 bags of rubbish were pulled from three local roadsides.
Landcare officials and others involved in the cleanup effort were disappointed to see a motorist throw an empty bottle out his car window while volunteers plucked rubbish from the roadside.
Other areas targeted in the cleanup were again littered with rubbish just days later.
Deep Creek Landcare Group and residents from around Army Road collected rubbish along Army, Reynolds and Pakenham roads as part of the CleanUp Australia Day effort.
Landcare spokeswoman Meryl Waterhouse said several wheels and tyres were among the items collected, but volunteers were particularly struck by the careless discarding of rubbish, including takeaway food wrappers and cartons.
Days after the cleanup effort on Sunday, 4 March, organisers found the unsightly mess was back again.
“We were most disappointed to find a mass of food and drink containers scattered around the Army Road Hall last week,” Mrs Waterhouse said.
“Obviously, someone had a party there after we cleaned up and couldn’t be bothered taking their rubbish with them. What is it about people these days?
“Why is it so much trouble to simply take rubbish and put it in a bin? Do people no longer have any respect for anything?”
Mrs Waterhouse said Victoria might have to introduce a deposit on cans and bottles as is done in South Australia.
“Last year we collected several truck and car tyres that had been dumped and we found the same again this year in the same area.”
Mrs Waterhouse said the effort by cleanup volunteers was terrific. She thanked Cardinia Shire Council for its support in disposing of the rubbish collected.
“But it is just so disappointing that we will probably have to do the same again next year because of the thoughtless actions of a few,” she said.