Illegal Dumping
We don’t just remove rubbish!
We work with communities to encourage better waste disposal behaviours and stop dumping before it happens again.
Working alongside Auckland Council, our Stream Team monitors dumping and litter at our restoration sites and plans responses which include community-led clean-ups that keep our stream free of waste, pests and harmful pollutants.
Our waste removal actions are paired with community conversations and practical education helping residents understand the impacts of dumping and how to dispose of waste responsibly.
Cleaner streams mean healthier environments for all
Illegal dumping is an ongoing issue in streams across our catchment and harms waterways and neighbourhoods. Dumping causes pollution, blocks streams, and attracts vermin. It creates the perception that this behaviour is tolerated leading to repeat dumping in the same spot. Even the dumping of green waste in our reserves, which may seem harmless, can introduce pest plants. Let’s work together to divert all kinds of waste and change this behaviour.
Cleaner streams mean healthier ecosystems and safer neighbourhoods for us to enjoy. Clear-flowing waterways improve flood resilience, reduce long-term clean-up costs and create welcoming spaces people can feel proud of.
By working together, we’re restoring the mauri of our waterways, creating cleaner, safer environments for both people and wildlife, and building shared responsibility for the places we call home.
Before (left) and after (right) our Stream Team, alongside community volunteers, remove rubbish dumped on stream side.
Case study - Clean streets, clean waterways
Our Neat Streets programme ran from 2017-2023 providing free skips, recycling and repair services in the Ōtara-Papatoetoe local board area. Across 32 events, we removed 177 tonnes of landfill waste from homes.
Our flood resilience work in 2025 removed over 9 tonnes of rubbish from waterways around Blampied Road, Kudu to Preston Road and Papatoetoe High School.
In 2024-25, we organised 17 clean-up events, rallying 371 volunteers who contributed 705 hours to remove 205 bags and 36m2 of dumped rubbish, mattresses, building materials, tyres and green waste.
80 volunteers from ASEZ WAO New Zealand helped clean up 36m2 of rubbish and illegal dumping from a local reserve on 23 March 2025
Empowering communities to lead positive change
We work alongside neighbours, whānau and local organisations to raise awareness about the impacts of dumping and support better waste practices across our catchment.
Through practical education and partnership with Auckland Council Waste Solutions, we help residents access the right disposal options and understand how everyday choices affect our waterways. We engage with communities to co-design clean-ups and local solutions, provide guidance on waste diversion, and monitor ongoing issues to prevent repeat dumping.
Our approach combines action with learning, empowering communities to lead positive change in their own neighbourhoods.
Reducing dumping is about more than removing rubbish, it’s about restoring pride in our awa and strengthening long-term care for place.
Case Study - Community Clean-Ups
Community clean-ups are a powerful example of what consistent, collective action can achieve. The Trust is supported by a dedicated network of volunteers, including youth groups from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Training Centre, who have become familiar faces at the Trust’s restoration sites.
Through more than 20 volunteer sessions, young people have worked alongside our Community Coordinators to remove illegal dumping, litter and debris from streams and reserves. Together, they have cleared hundreds of bags of rubbish and bulky waste that would otherwise pollute waterways and restrict stormwater flow.
This ongoing partnership strengthens stream health while building a culture of shared responsibility, showing how regular, hands-on care keeps our waterways clean, resilient and valued by the community.
Clean-up Day with Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints