Illegal Dumping

Noticed multiple trucks entering private property or bushland areas near you?
It could be illegal dumping

In the Hawkesbury rural properties are only allowed to import 100 cubic metres of certified clean fill without approval

What is illegal dumping?

Illegal dumping is the disposal of more than small amounts of waste or litter on land or in water without the correct approvals (an environment protection licence or planning approvals).

  • Illegal dumping can include:
    • Placing unwanted household items on the footpath when there is no council collection
    • Dumping rubbish or green waste in the bush or on the side of a road
    • Businesses or contractors who are paid to correctly dispose of commercial waste but instead dump it on land without proper approvals
    • Dumping asbestos waste
  • Illegal dumping can
    • Harm human health
    • Contaminate the environment and soil, and poison plants and animals
    • Smother native vegetation
    • Introduce weeds into sensitive bushland
    • Pollute waterways
    • Degrade culturally sensitive environments
    • Make public places dangerous to use
    • Create a fire risk and endanger people’s lives by blocking emergency access
    • Degrade land value
    • Cost millions of dollars in taxpayer money each year to clean up
    • Undermine legitimate businesses

Source : NSW EPA

  • 19 355 reports of illegal dumping were made to the NSW EPA in 2019-20
  • Household waste was the most common type of illegally dumped material reported
  • In NSW the average person generated 2.65 t of waste per year
  • Construction and demolition waste (disposed of legally) accounts for the largest proportion of waste generated at 12.5m t
  • 2m t of Hazardous waste was generated – asbestos accounted for 72% of that
  • Facilities for the storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste are approaching capacity
  • Poor waste disposal can result in harmful chemicals leaching into the soil, groundwater and surface water and becoming a risk to human health and the environment.

Source : 2021 NSW State of the Environment Report, p27-28

How to report illegal dumping

If the dumped waste is an emergency?
Eg if it includes toxic fumes or is a large chemical spill
Call 000 and report it immediately.

If the dumped waste is an immediate threat to human health or the environment
Call EPA Environment Line on 131 555.

For all other illegally dumped waste report via RIDONLINE – the EPA’s online reporting service: https://ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au/

RIDonline is a database used by councils and government agencies across NSW to record and manage illegal dumping incidents.

When you report via RIDonline, the relevant local council is sent an email alert about the incident so they can respond. To follow up on a report, call the council.