Lismore City Council cracking down on illegal dumping

LISMORE City Council are taking new measures in an effort to crack down on illegal dumping.

LISMORE City Council are taking new measures in an effort to crack down on illegal dumping.

Nineteen council rangers, compliance staff and National Parks & Wildlife Service officers recently attended a surveillance camera training course in preparation of the roll-out of cameras to catch illegal dumpers.

The course was run by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in Lismore and is part of the Illegal Dumping Prevention Project being managed across the region by NE Waste, NE Waste's Illegal Dumping Project Coordinator Tash Morton said.

"Officers attending the course gained practical knowledge in installing and maintaining electronic surveillance devices and managing evidence gathered as well as updating their knowledge on the relevant legislation that applies to the use of surveillance cameras for law enforcement purposes," Ms Morton said.

Council rangers, compliance staff and NPWS officers attending the surveillance camera training course run by NE Waste. Photo Contributed. Picture: Contributed

"Cameras are getting smaller and easier to hide and the technology is improving all the time," Ms Morton said.

"The rangers left the course confident that cameras will play a significant part in helping them to reduce illegal dumping across the region in the near future."

Council's Environmental Compliance Officer Stuart Thomson said ratepayers and the environment both pay a high price for illegal dumping.

"Lismore City Council spends in the excess of $100,000 per year cleaning up dumped waste from riverbanks, reserves, roadsides and parks," Mr Thomson said.

"This is money that could be better spent on recycling initiatives or improving our parklands."

NSW dumping fines recently increased with fines for non-hazardous waste offences now $2000 for individuals and $4000 for corporations. Hazardous waste including asbestos fines increased to $4000 for individuals and $8000 for corporations.

Dumpers are also now required to clean up the dumped materials or pay for the clean-up costs. If the materials dumped contain hazardous materials such as paints, chemicals or asbestos, fines are even greater.

If residents have information regarding illegal dumping they can report it online at www.illegaldumping.com.au or phone Council on 1300 87 83 87.

The surveillance camera training course was a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the NSW waste levy.