Illegal dumping on the rise and costing Moonee Valley ratepayers

RATEPAYERS in Moonee Valley are forking out more than $250k each year to clean up the mess left behind by illegal dumpers.

ILLEGAL rubbish dumping is on the rise in Moonee Valley with more than $250,000 of ratepayers’ money being spent annually cleaning up the mess.

It’s almost as much as Moonee Valley Council spent on implementing its integrated transport plan this financial year and close to the cost of planting and replacing trees.

Council figures show rubbish dumping has soared, particularly during summer, with 1416 complaints received last year.

Of those, 306 related to dumped mattresses and 196 for couches, while discarded televisions, fridges and washing machines also made the list.

Rubbish dumping complaints in 2016:

General waste 709

Mattresses 306

Couches 196

Green waste 82

Televisions 74

Fridges 21

Washing machines 19

Computer monitors 9

Mayor Andrea Surace said illegal rubbish dumping was a big issue, with the council left to investigate, remove and dispose of it all. She said items were usually found in carparks, sports grounds, dead-end streets and industrial areas.

“Unfortunately there has been an increase in reported dumping over the last few years,” she said.

“Dumped rubbish is not only unsightly, but it causes a potential safety issue for the community and council staff who have to clean it up … It costs money that
we could spend on other, more essential projects.”

Cr Surace said the council offered annual hard waste and twice-yearly branch/pruning collections.

“If you have items you would like to dispose of outside these collections then I encourage you to donate them to a local charity or take them to the transfer station, where we will recycle them,” she said.

Anyone who witnesses illegal rubbish dumping should phone the Environment Protection Authority on 1300 372 842 or lodge a service request with council on 9243 8888.

To find out more about hard or green waste collections or recycling, visit mvcc.vic.gov.au/waste