Time to get RID of illegal dumping

16 December 2019

Ratepayers’ money deserves to be put to better use

Illegally dumped waste is a bad look for our beautiful Tweed. It might be tyres dumped by the roadside, an old mattress in a bush reserve or a broken TV and other unwanted household items left on the kerbside.

Dumpers need to beware, as the new on-the-spot fines for illegal dumping are now in place - $4,000 for individuals and $8,000 for businesses.

Last year there were 349 dumping incidents reported in the Tweed, 75 per cent of which were household waste dumped on kerbsides and in public parks and reserves.

Illegal dumping costs Council and the Tweed community $160,000 per annum for collection and safe disposal.

Council’s Manager Building and Environmental Health, David McNicoll said illegal dumping is not acceptable to our community, can be a health hazard to those who collect it, impacts our wildlife and can result in the pollution of our waterways.

“We live in or visit the Tweed because of its natural beauty and illegal dumping is just not okay,” Mr McNicoll said.

“As we head into the busy holiday season, Council is working in partnership with North East Waste to tackle this issue head on by ramping up our surveillance to identify dumpers. With on-the-spot fines for dumping starting at $4,000, it isn’t worth the risk. Just take it to the tip or book a free Council kerbside clean up.

Mr McNicoll said fines for asbestos dumping will be a major focus in 2020.

“With a reduction in the cost to dispose of asbestos at landfill, now there is no excuse to dump asbestos. There are 4,000 reasons for the community and 8,000 for business not to dump it,” he said.

“Council is calling on the community to help get rid of illegal dumping by reporting any dump sites or forwarding the registration details of those seen dumping and locations of the dump site direct to Council.”

You can report illegal dumping at https://ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au or by contacting Council on (02) 6670 2400. Further information is available at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/illegaldumping

This project is a NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Waste Less Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.

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Caption: Illegal dumping costs Council and the Tweed community $160,000 a year for collection and safe disposal