Move to stamp out rubbish

CIGARETTE butts, dog droppings and illegally dumped rubbish are among the litter problems which are set to cost Cardinia Shire $900,000 over the next year.
That is what the council has allocated to cleaning up litter, which it identified as being linked to increases in crime such as graffiti and property damage.
The council’s Draft Litter Strategy 2008 says one of the main concerns is the presence of cigarette butts, which constitutes more than half of all ground litter and may take up to 15 years to decompose.
Butts which are left on the ground are often washed away with rain and carried via storm drains into the sea where the 4000 toxins contained in each butt, including lead and arsenic, can leak in to the water for up to seven days.
The draft stated that of similar concern is the presence of broken glass and syringes on public property, which are particularly hazardous to children.
Cardinia Shire plans to change this with the recently released policy planning to reduce litter by 25 per cent from 2003 levels, by 2014.
“Council is committed to ensuring Cardinia residents have a clean local environment,” said Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Ronald.
Anyone who would like to read the draft strategy or provide the shire with feedback before Friday 25 July can visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au.