'This is really bad': Newly arrived couple take on Gisborne dumping hotspot

Weeks after arriving in Gisborne, a couple are considering a career change – cleaning up rubbish dumped on the city’s beaches.

Ben Arthur and Eleanor Dizon moved to Gisborne three weeks ago for a job opportunity, but quickly spent their spare time tackling the region’s illegal tipping problem.

In recent months, residents raised concerns about rubbish dumping at local surf beach Makorori, and a consultation was launched for an overnight closure of popular Kaiti Hill/Titirangi Maunga to prevent dumping.

Gisborne District Council data presented at an environmental meeting in August showed illegally dumped rubbish volumes had halved in the first six months of the year compared to the same period the previous year.

However, councillors and staff acknowledged a stretch of Centennial Marine Drive alongside Midway Beach, known to locals as the “Mad Mile”, remained a dumping hotspot.

Arthur, originally from Gisborne and working on an orchard, and Dizon, who is at Leaderbrand, decided to tackle the issue after moving to the city.

They studied environmental management and agriculture, which they said helped inspire their efforts.

In their previous Auckland neighbourhood, the couple started an environmental organisation, Earthtenders, to clean up rubbish at Arthur’s workplace.

The initiative soon expanded to collecting rubbish during beach walks.

They continued their efforts after moving to Gisborne.

After the first weekly clean-up at Midway Beach, locals suggested they focus on the Mad Mile.

“At first, I didn’t know it was that bad, but thanks to a comment left by someone [who said] ‘oh, you should check out the end of the beach’,” Arthur said.

“Once we saw it, we were like, ‘okay, this is really bad’.”

Since arriving, the couple and a growing number of volunteers have collected glass bottles, cans, household rubbish in black bags, toys and cardboard.

“Probably 85% of it would be single-use – drinks mostly,” Arthur said.

About 600kg of rubbish had been collected across three clean-ups, with volunteers contributing time, vehicles and trailers.

The couple have shared their work on Facebook, where their efforts have attracted community support.

“I thought at first it would be gradual, but it’s just a big wave all at once, and we want to keep it going now. We want to keep it growing and continue,” Arthur said.

People who had moved away from Gisborne had messaged their support, while others expressed frustration at the dumping.

A large portion of the waste could be recycled and Arthur encouraged people to reduce their use of single-use plastics and recycle what they could, saying recycling was free.

“Everyone has the power to do it right and if they do it right, then it helps us and it helps the environment.

“It’s decency. It’s for everyone else. It’s for yourself. It’s for protecting the environment, protecting what lives in the environment.”

More than 600kg of rubbish has been cleared from Midway Beach by volunteers including Ben Arthur (from left), Travis Boyd, Govin Gis, Clifford Ga-a, Rue Elle Ga-a and Eleanor Dizon. Photo / Ben Arthur

The couple hope to secure funding, attract more volunteers and collect rubbish bags and equipment donations so they can leave their jobs and pursue Earthtenders fulltime.

They plan to organise clean-ups several times a week at different locations.

In the meantime, they will scout areas people messaged them about and organise clean-ups when resources allow. They are also looking to connect with other environmental groups to expand their efforts.

“There’s one guy down in Mahia that does the same thing, like collecting rubbish off the roadside, and we got a coach from the boys rugby team that also wanted to bring his team out to help,” Arthur said.

One of the biggest hurdles the couple have faced is the cost of rubbish stickers needed to dispose of collected waste.

Each Gisborne household receives 13 rubbish stickers with each rates invoice and can buy more for $3 each at council service centres, supermarkets, dairies and service stations.

One sticker is required for every 5kg of rubbish in a bag, up to a maximum bag weight of 20kg.

Arthur said several people had donated between six and 10 sheets of rubbish stickers.

Gisborne District Council had also agreed to provide equipment and contribute towards disposal costs.

Arthur commended the council’s efforts, despite its funding constraints.

A council spokesperson said it supported community groups, schools, businesses and residents who organised clean-up events by co-ordinating rubbish collection and disposal.

“We welcome community-led initiatives that help care for our beaches, parks and public spaces, and we’re happy to work alongside groups that want to make a positive contribution to the environment.”

Support was provided as needed for approved community clean-up activities.

The spokesperson said council contractors would continue regular maintenance and monitoring at Midway Beach.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.