You might soon be told by the Dunedin City Council to clean up your act if a proposed amendment to its litter compliance policy is adopted.
Other proposed amendments include giving it the power to make littering in a public place or private land, and wilful breaking of bottles or glass, offences.
The draft policy will be discussed at the council’s infrastructure services committee meeting on Monday.
A council report found some households, primarily around the University of Otago and City Rise, stockpiled general waste while waiting to take advantage of free skips provided by the university.
The report said the stockpiles were usually untidy and a source of nuisance complaints to the council.
Rubbish was often strewn around during high winds and heavy rain and attracted animal scavengers.
In the worst cases, stockpiles could be potential health hazards, it said.
Under current rules, littering or illegal dumping on private land was an offence only if done without the occupier’s consent.
There were areas in Dunedin that consistently reported higher rates of littering and illegal dumping, the report said.
"Residents, businesses, and visitors to Dunedin often request that council do more to address these issues."
Amending the policy would assist the council in creating a cleaner and safer environment, especially in North Dunedin, and would align with principles in the Sophia Charter signed by the council in July.
The wilful breaking of glass was another issue encountered around the university and City Rise, "due to the high density of rental properties containing groups of young people", it said.
The amendments would allow existing council staff appointed as warranted litter control officers to issue a written notice telling the occupant of the home to clean up, remove the rubbish or cover it from view.
Other actions for infringements may involve education, warnings, investigations and infringement notices.
"Nothing in the policy prevents the council from pursuing a serious offence to prosecution in the district court."
If agreed on, the policy will be made available for public submissions.
