Filthy mattresses, stained couches, broken white goods and unwanted exercise equipment are just some of the items frequently dumped on kerbs across the city.

It is unsightly, unhygienic and unnecessary.

Of course there are people in our community who put such objects out on nature strips in the genuine hope others will find a use for them.

Usually these residents are caring enough about their neighbourhood’s amenity to remove any uncollected items after a few days and store or dispose of them thoughtfully.

But there are also many engaging in this practice who are simply keen to make their junk someone else’s problem.

This week, as a result of a rise in hard rubbish dumping, the City of Greater Bendigo warned residents caught partaking in this form of littering face fines of up to $311.

It is all very well to enforce the existing laws applying to littering, but it does nothing to address the underlying cause. There is a demonstrable need in Bendigo for a hard rubbish collection service.

If the amount of rubbish lining our streets is not evidence enough, then a Bendigo Advertiser poll conducted this week that saw 95 per cent of respondents vote in favour of one makes a compelling case.

The council can talk all it wants about how unwanted items can be disposed of in the city’s landfill, but clearly that option does not appeal to many residents. For some it is too expensive, too time-consuming or they do not have the means to transport the rubbish to landfill.

Inevitably there will be some people who do the wrong thing no matter what system is put in place. However, the council must swallow its pride, drop its opposition to a hard rubbish collection and introduce the service – even if it is just for a trial period.

If after a year or two there is no reduction in the amount of waste dumped on our kerbs and in our bushland, then so be it.

The argument from the council that such a service is “uneconomic” is nonsensical. Very little of what local government does is economical. Residents are calling for this and it is time the council – and especially our newly elected batch of councillors – listened and acted.

- Ross Tyson, deputy editor