Dumped rubbish refers to any kind of waste illegally deposited or discarded, rather than disposed of properly. This includes anything from household rubbish to building materials and chemicals, to electronic waste.
In Victoria dumped rubbish is a serious issue affecting the environment and the well-being of Victorian communities. Rubbish is often dumped in out-of-the-way parks or bushland, and there is a particular concern in Victoria for rubbish dumped in national parks such as the Enfield State Park and the Mt. Disappointment area.
In Geelong, Point Henry has become a particular hotspot for illegal dumping, where hundreds of tires were discovered in late 2022. Dumpers avoid being caught in the act by illegally dumping in the outer suburbs.
Avoiding detection is important to dumpers. In Victoria, punishment for illegally dumped rubbish can attract a maximum court penalty of $610,700 or 7 years imprisonment for an individual, or between $1.2 million to $3.6 million for a corporation.
Fines for illegally dumping rubbish may seem high, but the cost for removal is similarly high. The City of Greater Geelong estimates that they spend $800,000 annually to dispose of illegally dumped rubbish, and fines for illegal dumping in Geelong can reach $9,900 for individuals.
If someone has dumped rubbish on your property, or in a public place, it is important to report it as soon as possible. You can contact your local council or the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for assistance.
If you discover dumped rubbish on your property or in public, you should contact the local council for proper disposal. If you have evidence of who is responsible for the dumping, you can also report that to the council for further action. If you’re not sure who to contact, you can use the Snap Send Solve app. The app is free, and uses location data to send your report to the correct authority to handle the issue.
There are a few ways to report dumped rubbish in Victoria. You can call your local council or Victoria’s Environmental Protection Authority by calling their 24-hour hotline at 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).
If you need to report dumped rubbish in Victoria, and you’re not sure who to contact, you can download the Snap Send Solve app, and it will submit the report to the relevant authorities to investigate.
Sources
