Shoalhaven Council offered monetary lifeline by EPA to battle growing illegal dumping dilemma

A coastal council has been thrown a monetary lifeline in their battle against a growing illegal dumping epidemic across the South Coast region. Here’s what we know.

Illegal dumping has increased drastically in the Shoalhaven. Picture: Shoalhaven City Council

A coastal council has been thrown a monetary lifeline in its growing battle against illegal dumping, which has increased drastically over the last two years.

The NSW Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has provided Shoalhaven City Council with nearly $80,000 towards educating residents on the issue of illegal dumping, as well as signage, bollard and CCTV installation.

The grant comes after council data reveals illegal dumping has increased on public and council land by 60 per cent since 2023.

Shoalhaven City Council mayor Patrica White said the increasing illegal dumping figures – which primarily consist of household items – was “alarming”.

“Our greatest concern is the impact dumping has on our natural environment,” she said.

Shoalhaven City Council have been given nearly $80,000 from the NSW EPA to tackle illegal dumping. Picture: File

Ms White revealed the dumping epidemic threatened 156 endangered species which inhabit the Shoalhaven region.

The dire data also reveals council recovered approximately 450 tonnes of waste from public land during the two year period, at a cost of $208,689.

Ms White said the EPA funding was a start to fixing the overall problem.

“This funding support from the EPA will enable our illegal dumping investigators to continue their important work educating residents, protecting our environment and holding polluters to account,” she said.

NSW EPA executive director of programs and innovation, Alexandra Geddes, said the organisation working alongside Shoalhaven City Council was paramount to solving the coastal issue.

She said the two organisations would work together to prevent suburban and forest dumping.

“Illegal dumping impacts the community and poses devastating risks to our environment,” Ms Geddes said.

“This partnership supports land managers to target hotspots with actions that meet community needs and better protect our parks, bushlands, and streetscapes.”

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Originally published as Shoalhaven Council offered monetary lifeline by EPA to battle growing illegal dumping dilemma