NSW councils forking out $300 million to clean up illegal dumping

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to remove thousands of incidents of illegal dumping across NSW – sparking the EPA to make the biggest changes to environment protection regulation in more than three decades.

Shocking new data has revealed illegal dumping is costing ratepayers upwards of $300m a year in collection, disposal and regulation fees, which has led to “the biggest change” to environment protection regulation in more than three decades.

Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said illegal dumping has become one of NSW’s most “significant and persistent problems”, with councils haemorrhaging ratepayer funds to stay on top of cases.

According to the NSW Environment Protection Authority, NSW has already seen 12,314 reports of illegal dumping this financial year.

Following the recent figures and complaints from local councils, NSW parliament passed the Environment Protection Legislation Amendment act on April 3, which can now see illegal dumpers fined up to $2m and seven years imprisonment.

Ms Sharpe spoke on the protection amendment, claiming that the bill is a massive win for local councils who are facing this issue daily.

Penny Sharpe claims big win for councils

“This is a significant and persistent problem … particularly for local councils due to its covert nature is difficult to prevent and regulate and costly to clean up which councils are collectively spending in excess of $20m per year on managing illegal dumping,” she said.

“Local councils have called for reform in relation to illegal dumping, this bill answers those calls.”

Councils are spending millions playing catch up with illegal dumping

Waste levels and reports of illegal dumping have spiked. Picture: Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad

The new laws allow councils, police and other agencies to verbally direct the removal of waste or litter in an offence of small-scale illegal dumping, with higher penalties for dumping in sensitive areas such as hospitals, schools, public parks, and beaches.

NSW Environment Protection Authority chief executive Tony Chapel, said illegal dumpers will now face more sever punishments.

NSW Environment Protection Authority Chief Executive Officer Tony Chappel

“Illegal dumping of waste is an ongoing and highly visible problem in NSW which can potentially harm people’s health and contaminate the environment,” he said.

“It can also degrade culturally sensitive environments, make public places dangerous to use and cost millions of dollars in taxpayer money each year to clean up.”

Dumped rubbish in Blacktown which was removed after being reported through Snap Send Solve.

Waste levels and reports of illegal dumping have spiked. Picture: Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad

Councils such as the inner west have acknowledged the ongoing social, environmental and health impacts of illegal dumping with council representatives saying have reported an uptick in instances of illegal dumping.

The new figure come just days after two brazen dumpers were caught red-handed unloading a tipper truck full of rubbish and leaving it in the middle of a Belmore St, Burwood leading to the culprits being fined a total of $11,500.

Burning rubbish suspected to be contaminated with asbestos has been found dumped on the side of the road in Sydney’s southwest overnight., , Emergency services were called to Graham Rd in Rossmore shortly before 11pm, where the abandoned building material was found., , Police officers, firefighters and members of Camden Council attended and cleaned up the rubbish.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, burning rubbish suspected to be contaminated with asbestos was dumped on the side of the road in Graham Rd, Rossmore.