Driver Fined for Littering

BY TYLER FARDELL


A Hunter man who thought it would be funny to throw a ice-filled drink cup at a cyclist as they traveled along Maitland Road in Hexham as had his comeuppance.

The Environment Protection Authority fined the man $450 for aggravated littering and said it's lucky the cyclist was alright after the incident which occurred in October last year.

The drink hit the man on the head and damaged his glasses and helmet but he was able to safely pull over.

The dangerous act was recorded on the cyclists bike camera and the footage was handed in to police.

Hunter Director of the EPA Karen Marler criticized the act, calling it reckless and stupid.

"Litter damages the environment", she said. "It can harm wildlife and marine life, injure people and make our surroundings more dangerous".

NSW police are continuing to investigate the matter.

Return and Earn Reverse Vending Machine first in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Hunter is now home to the first Return and Earn Reverse Vending Machine in the state in a bid to reduce waste.

The machine is located at the Woolworths in Medowie and it's as easy as putting in a container, and getting 10 cents back to give to a charity, or use at the local Woolies.

The state government will be rolling out more of the machines across the Hunter which will be in use from December 1. The NSW government is aiming to reduce waste by 40 per cent by 2020.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says it's really quite a simple way to reduce the amount of litter on the streets in the Hunter.

"You put your container in, you get your payment or your voucher or your contribution to your charity and at the back of the vending machine there's a 20 foot container and all the material then goes into the back obviously to be collected by the waste industry," said Scot MacDonald.

The government says the machines present a massive logistical exercise which is why it's taking a little bit of time to get them all installed and up and running.

Scot MacDonald said they've been rolled out in South Australia already and so far, so good.

"It does make a material difference to the rubbish on the road that you see in the streets in your neighbourhood. So look it has got the runs on the board, we were talking to the installers there who've come over from Europe and they're saying it has a good track record in some of the European countries."

The containers eligible for the 10 cent refund include most containers between 150ml and three litres. Containers shouldn't be crushed or broken and have the original label attached to be eligible for the refund.

Don't Be A Tosser, Apply For The Litter Grant

BY DANIELLE RIES

Parliamentary Secretary for the Huner Scot MacDonald is encouraging Hunter waste group to apply for a share of 1-point-25 million dollars to fund litter prevention projects.

The Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Central Coast, Maitland, Cessnock City Councils are all members of the Hunter Waste Group.

The NSW Governments Litter Regional Implementation program offers funding to 14 waste groups to support member councils to work to tackle litter problems in their community.

Waste groups are eligible to apply for the funding to implement the anti-littering project, on behalf of their council members.

Scot MacDonald says the funding aims to reduce the amount of litter in the community.

"The aim of the government is to reduce the litter across the state by 40 percent by 2020. Strongly urging them to apply for some of this funding to address hot spots on litter, in particular, we are looking for along the major arterial roads, take away containers getting up around 40 percent of our litter, but certainly targeting road side litter".

Scot MacDonald says the constant littering is very bad for the environment.

"I'm not sure what goes through peoples minds when they wind down the window and throw out that take away container. Look all you've got to do is put it in the bin at home. Have a bit of respect for your own backyard and respect for the environment. 

"Of course a lot of this litter takes many many years if not decades longer to decompose and break down".

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald

Don't be a tosser: Maitland City Council's personal ash tray initiative

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Maitland City Council are personalising the way you dispose of cigarette butts with personal ash trays.

Not only are they discrete, the ash trays are a safe way to carry cigarette butts until they can be disposed of in a bin.

Cigarette litter is one of the major litter items in the Maitland local government area, being dropped in local shopping precincts, along footpaths and in local waterways endangering the environment and the health of animals and the community.

Manager of Development and Environment David Simm says it is hoped the incentive will reduce cigarette litter in the area.

"It's about raising the awareness about cigarette litter, cigarette butt litter, so there's something tangible people can relate to. It's also simply a simply way to deal with those butts without discarding them on the footpath, or on the driveway or in the gutter, in the waterways".

Council's Regulatory Officers are currently able to issue on the spot fines for offences pertaining to the litter of cigarette butts, ranging from a $60 fine for dropping an unlit or extinguished cigarette butt, to a $375 fine for aggravated littering that threatens public safety or the environment.

Simm says that the personal ash trays will be available from Council's Administration Building or at the Maitland Visitor Information Centre during operating hours until supplies run out.