Community members who come across illegal dumping sites or witness offenders in the act are urged to report it to Eurobodalla Shire Council or the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Council conducts regular blitzes of dumping sites but also encourages the community to actively report illegal dumping.
Council’s Environmental Services Divisional Manager Deb Lenson said rangers investigated about 100 illegal dumping matters in Eurobodalla in the past year.
“Council takes illegal dumping very seriously,” she said.
“Recently a Eurobodalla man was fined $2,000 for illegally dumping building waste. Council can issue on-the-spot fines of $2,000 for individuals, $8,000 for corporations and there are penalties of up to $250,000 and possible jail time for more serious or repeat offences.
“We encourage the community to report any illegal dumping activities to Council so we can investigate and prevent it happening again in the future.”
Ms Lenson said Eurobodalla rangers had training in investigation and surveillance techniques, thanks to a regional illegal dumping prevention program, partly funded by the EPA. The program also allows rangers to exchange intelligence on illegal dumping activities across the eight participating local governments, covering an area of more than 18,000 square kilometres.
Ms Lenson said research indicated illegal dumping offenders were predominately male, aged 18 to 45.
“The most commonly-dumped items include building and demolition waste, excavated material, green waste and mixed household waste including TVs computers, tyres and mattress,” Ms Lenson said.
“Much of the waste that is dumped is actually recyclable and accepted free at the waste management facility, so there is no excuse.”
Report illegal dumping to Council on 4474 1000 or the EPA hotline 131 555.
