Broken glass spurs cleanup

Kimberley Smith, of Dunedin, sweeps up other people's broken glass after becoming sick of having to dodge it on her morning commute. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Kimberley Smith, of Dunedin, sweeps up other people's broken glass after becoming sick of having to dodge it on her morning commute. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
A Dunedin woman is so sick of seeing streets in the North Dunedin student area littered with shattered glass she has taken to removing the glass herself.

Yesterday, Kimberley Smith filled a 10-litre bucket with broken glass and bottles after walking down George, Dundas, Clyde and Forth Sts.

She said it was not a coincidence the amount of broken glass increased when the University of Otago resumed after the summer break.

''I would say it is probably the worst during O Week and then again post-exams.

''However, there are often bits of glass I will walk by for weeks.''

The Dunedin City Council and students' associations needed to find more effective ways to manage the streets and educate students, she said.

''I don't mind the students having fun. I drank and partied and what not, but I just don't see the need to go around trashing the area.

''Have fun, but put it in a bin.''

After seeing the same problem for seven years on her morning commute, she feared it sent the wrong message about Dunedin.

''What does it say about our town?''

Both of Mrs Smith's children had been cut by glass on the streets surrounding the campus.

She planned to write a report for the council suggesting ways the problem could be fixed.

The bucket of glass would also be given to the council, she said.

Council solid waste manager Cath Irvine said a ''mammoth collaborative effort'' was being made by the university, OUSA, Campus Watch and the council to counteract waste during Orientation Week.

This included extra collections and skip days, as well as an information tent on the Union Lawn to educate students about rubbish and recycling services, she said.

Campus Watch was also involved and staff were handing out information packs prepared by the council about rubbish disposal.

Acting group transport manager Richard Saunders said the council normally did three cleans of the campus area each week. They were increased to daily at this time of year.

The council also responded to requests from the public about glass, he said.

University proctor Dave Scott said the glass problem was a ''significant focus'' for the university.

Campus Watch staff were visiting ''every flat'' to get the message across and the average fine for students seen smashing bottles was $150, he said.

If the act was deemed malicious, students were sent to the vice-chancellor, who could exclude them from university, if it was warranted.

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz

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