'Disgraceful' bin issue in beachside suburb ignites fears ahead of summer
Overflowing bins have become a significant concern across Australia with calls for more to be done to combat the problem.
'Disgraceful' scenes witnessed in a beachside suburb this week have ignited concerns among locals who say the 'disgusting' problem will likely worsen during summer months. And it's an issue sadly faced in populated coastal communities across the country, Yahoo News was told, as more people flock to outdoor areas.
Images shared by a Sydney local on social media show the aftermath of a busy weekend at Brighton-Le-Sands beach in the city's south. They show overflowing bins with rubbish littering the surrounding pavement with other items carelessly dumped beside them.
"This is the end result of a very busy day at Brighton Beach yesterday," the local said suggesting more bins are needed to help contain the rubbish, especially as more and more people visit the area on warmer days.
'Increasing levels of tourism' partly to blame for waste issue
According to Snap Send Solve, beach littering and overflowing bins have become significant concerns across Australia. Data shows notable increases in reported incidents throughout October, CEO Danny Gorog confirmed to Yahoo News.
"In New South Wales alone, reports in beach suburbs surged by nearly 30 per cent, with Victoria seeing the highest spike at over 35 per cent. This highlights the ongoing impact of seasonal crowds on local infrastructure," he said.
"Increasing levels of tourism and the challenges of waste management — such as the limited amount of bins and lack of resources — may be contributing to these cases. However, littering impacts everyone, including residents, wildlife, and the environment."
Council address bin complaints ahead of summer months
The upsetting scenes in Sydney sparked debate among residents with some deeming it council's responsibility to "clean up more often", and consider placing "more bins" throughout the area. Others however said people should "use common sense" and not continue to use the bins if they're already full.
"Wouldn't you look at the bin that is obviously full and just take your rubbish home with you and dispose of it...... seriously is it that hard?" one asked.
When Yahoo questioned Bayside Council about their bin maintenance in the area, they confirmed ample steps are already being taken to manage the influx of visitors and to keep the local parks and beaches tidy.
"Over summer (starting from October) beachside bins are emptied daily during the week. On weekends and public holidays bins are emptied in the morning and afternoon,' a spokesperson told Yahoo. "Dedicated waste teams also conduct regular patrols along the 8km foreshore collecting litter, and the beach is raked every day over summer."
Council said it "encourages all visitors to the foreshore to put their rubbish in the bins provided or take it with them" if they're full. "Council staff also issue customised waste bags to beachgoers to encourage them to dispose of their waste," they added.
Extra bin capacity introduced to account for increased waste
Council’s Summer Foreshore Program, which involves increased maintenance of the beach and surrounding area, runs from October to March. During this time, approximately 40,000 litres of additional mobile bin capacity are utilised along the beach, and the adjacent park and open space areas to account for an increase in waste, they confirmed.
"Regulation staff also conduct foot patrols of the beaches and parks to deter the practice of littering by patrons during summer".
The Sydney council joins others around the country attempting to tackle the waste issue on and around its beaches. Last month, a Queensland council was praised for its 'brilliant' bin idea at beachside parks.
"We’re calling on the community to help make a difference. With the free and easy-to-use Snap Send Solve app, residents can report litter and bin concerns in under a minute, enabling local authorities to address these issues promptly," Gorog said.
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