Parkes Shire Council is encouraging residents who witness or experience illegal dumping on their property to alert Council and report the incident to NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
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Illegal dumping is the term used for the unlawful deposit of waste material (other than litter) onto private or public land, which can include depositing unacceptable types and amounts of wastes at the Shires’ small village landfills that are available only for domestic type waste and from properties in the immediate area of that facility.
Council’s Director Planning and Environment Steven Campbell said Council takes illegal dumping seriously.
“The adverse impacts of uncontrolled, unlawful disposal of waste can be dangerous to humans, as well as our flora and fauna,” Mr Campbell said.
“In an effort to deter these types of incidents Council has recently increased surveillance in particular areas across the Parkes Shire, mostly in the bush and on remote rural roads.
“However, we are urging residents to immediately report any sightings of illegal dumping to Council and the EPA.”
The NSW Government shares these concerns and has created significant penalties for illegal dumping, both for the actual dumpers and the owners of the waste as well as anyone involved in the transport or acceptance of the illegally deposited waste.
These penalties include On the Spot Fines of up to $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for corporations, and even higher with prison time if the incident is prosecuted in court.
Illegal dumping can take many forms – it ranges from household waste (including old whitegoods and furniture), to garden waste, building and demolition waste, through to abandoned cars and tyres left in a vacant block, dumped in the bush or left on the roadside.
It also includes household and business waste being put into public litter bins.
The need for waste to be disposed of only in legally controlled landfills, either directly or via a transfer station is necessary to ensure the following impacts do not occur:
- Environmental hazards - degrading the land by destroying the bush through the introduction of weeds, affecting revegetation and impacting on animal habitats;
- Pollution of waterways - either directly or by chemicals and other pollutants leaching into drains, water courses or the water table;
- Creation of unsafe play areas for children in parks and potential breeding ground for pests, feral animals and vermin;
- Health risks - from the immediate and long-term risk of exposure to asbestos fibres, chemicals and other carcinogens;
- Decreased property values - both private and public, such as traveling stock routes and reserves;
- Substantial clean-up costs – carried by council for the community - these costs inevitably must be covered by everyone’s rates;
- Wasted resource - many of the items dumped would be more valuable in the recycling stream.
To report illegal dumping, you can call Parkes Shire Council 6861 2373 or the NSW EPA Pollution Hotline 1315 555, or report it online at www.ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au.
