GETTING charged to dump rubbish at the tip is expected in most circumstances but it came as a shock to one group last week.
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After picking up 15 bags of rubbish from along either side George Bass Drive, Donna Breen was horrified when council asked her for a fee to dump it.
Because Ms Breen couldn’t pick up rubbish on Clean Up Australia Day, she did her bit last week with partner Phillip Fuller and friend Pam Williams.
“I ride my bike along daily and pick up a bag every time,” she said.
“I decided to do a big pick up with my friend Pam because we missed the clean up day.
“It took us about three hours.
“We collected 15 bags of rubbish between the Ambulance Station and the roundabout at Sunshine Bay on both sides of the road.”
Mr Fuller took the rubbish to the tip where he was asked to pay $4.
It was not the amount that concerned them.
“I was horrified that council charged us,” Ms Breen said.
“It is the principle, not the amount of money.
“We did a community a service and got charged for it.
“It is just wrong.”
Ms Breen said they did not want brownie points.
“We don’t want brownie points, because I enjoy cleaning up the environment, but I thought it was a bit rich,” she said.
“Other people clean up the foreshores and the main streets.
“Everyone has their own thing.”
Ms Breen said the rubbish along George Bass Drive only got worse and wasn’t hard to find.
“It never gets picked up,” she said.
“Normally I pick up one bag on my bike ride and I am able to put it in our bin at home.
“It isn’t hard to fill a bag.”
Cleaning the side of the road between Batemans Bay High School and Sunshine Bay is next on Ms Breen’s agenda.
A council spokeswoman said people who noticed excessive litter should report it to council.
“That way, it can be included on the next maintenance round or referred to NSW Roads and Maritime,” she said.
“We know Eurobodalla residents care about maintaining the cleanliness of our beaches and parks and we thank people who care enough to pick up litter left behind by others and ask them to continue placing it in the closest litter bin.”
The spokeswoman did not encourage people to pick up rubbish from the roadside.
“Council staff or NSW Roads and Maritime employees are responsible for roadside litter clean ups in the Eurobodalla,” she said.
“The safety of individuals is paramount and council does not encourage people to stop on roadsides to collect rubbish.
“Organised events like Clean Up Australia Day, where safety measures are in place, are an exception.”