Western Bay Council Warns Against Dumping Garden Waste in Reserves

Western Bay of Plenty District Council is reminding residents that dumping garden waste in reserves, waterways and on roadsides is not only harmful but illegal. A recent post from the council warned that discarded plants — including jasmine, agapanthus, weeds and lawn clippings — can smother native vegetation, threaten wildlife habitats, increase fire risk, attract pests and disease, and introduce invasive species that cost ratepayers millions of dollars to control.

The council noted that three-quarters of Aotearoa New Zealand's problem weeds are garden escapees or plants that have been dumped in public spaces, and that around 80 percent of vines introduced to New Zealand gardens cause problems in the wild. Invasive weeds are currently damaging thousands of hectares of native bush and threatening thousands more.

Residents who spot illegal dumping are encouraged to report it by emailing info@westernbay.govt.nz, phoning 0800 TRASHY, or using the Antenno app. The council urged people to dispose of garden waste responsibly so that restoration work on native bush can continue.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).