Christmas gifts came at an extra price for Ashlee Hanchard.
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The Morton resident took leftover packaging to the Ulladulla Recycling and Waste Depot and said she was shocked by the fee incurred.
“It wasn’t a huge amount of rubbish and it was $26,” she said.
“We’ve been to the tip a few times and the prices are phenomenal compared to others we’ve been to.”
Dumping rubbish isn’t the right thing to do but there’s people out there doing it tough and they just can’t pay those high fees.
- Ashlee Hanchard
Mixed waste, which includes domestic, commercial and building items at Nowra and Ulladulla depot comes in at $330 per tonne.
At Surf Beach Waste Management Facility, the same amount is $145. The facility falls under Eurobodalla Shire Council’s jurisdiction.
Tony Fraser, Works and Services Manager at Shoalhaven City Council said the difference is due to fees payable to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
“The Shoalhaven Council is included in the EPA metropolitan area so the fees and charges include a component of the EPA levy which is payable to the EPA,” he said.
“We’re the most southern council in the EPA’s region, so while the prices also include operational costs, this is why the fees differ to those further south.”
Mr Fraser noted each domestic rateable property in the Shoalhaven receives two tip vouchers per year.
At Nowra and Ulladulla Recycling and Waste Depot they can be used for a maximum of one tonne of mixed waste.
She doesn’t support illegal dumping but Mrs Hanchard believes the fees may be discouraging people from disposing of waste properly.
“I drive along Wheelbarrow Road daily and there’s constantly lounges, electrical items and general rubbish along there,” she said.
“The vouchers only go to the homeowners so people renting may miss out.
“Dumping rubbish isn’t the right thing to do but there’s people out there doing it tough and they just can’t pay those high fees.”