LITTERING AND ILLEGAL DUMPING
Let’s work together to keep Cook Shire clean and beautiful
The difference between littering and illegal dumping is the volume of waste that has been deposited unlawfully. Littering is unlawful waste disposal under 200L, and illegal dumping is unlawful waste disposal that exceeds 200L.
Littering and illegal dumping are more than just dumping your waste in the bush. It also incorporates the following antisocial behaviour:
- Waste left next to the public street or recycling bins
- Overfilling your wheelie bins
- Abandoning or leaving an unregistered vehicle on a road or other public land
- Placing prohibited waste into the recycling bins or rubbish bins
- Littering from the vehicle
- Illegal disposal of any waste on the property without the owner’s permission.
The Impact of Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping is unclean, unsafe, and unacceptable. There is never a valid reason to dispose of waste in ways that pollute our natural environment and vandalize our region. The cost of removing illegally dumped waste is ultimately borne by the community. Additionally, illegal dumping harms our native wildlife, including endangered species.
Illegal dumping significantly diminishes the use, enjoyment, and value of our public places. It makes our communities and natural areas look dirty and uncared for, leading to decreased public use and enjoyment. An unkempt environment can encourage more dumping, other illegal activities, and antisocial behavior, reducing community pride and property values.
Environmental and Financial Costs
Illegal dumping costs Queensland communities millions of dollars each year in waste management and clean-up expenses; and costs Cook Shire approximately $100,000 per annum. Items containing chemicals or asbestos can cause direct harm or injury to humans and wildlife and lead to major pollution.
Illegal dumping is NOT a free disposal of waste. Cleaning up illegal dumping increases the operational budget of waste management and subsequently results in higher waste levy applied to your rates. Illegal dumping often occurs on someone else’s land, making your waste their problem.
The clean-up of illegal dumping poses risks to our staff, including the potential for physical injuries and the danger of encountering venomous snakes. Animals can become entangled in dumped items, leading to injury and death. Illegal dumping can also introduce pests and weeds into natural areas, block waterways and roads, cause flooding by blocking drains, and facilitate higher rates of erosion by smothering natural vegetation cover.
Reporting Illegal Dumping
Addressing illegal dumping and taking a stance against it is everyone’s responsibility.
If you witness an act of illegal dumping, you can report it to Cook Shire Council. Based on your report, if the dumping occurred in a concealed location, the Council will initially issue a show cause notice, requesting the offender to remediate the site. If the littering or illegal dumping took place in a visible area, the Council will pursue the offender by issuing an infringement notice. As a witness, you may need to give evidence so you should only report an offence if you are willing to appear in court.
If you see someone throwing litter from a vehicle, write down the vehicle number plate, make, model and colour, date, time and the location of the offence as well as description of the tpe of litter that was left behind. Equipped with this information, the Council can pursuit the offender and issue an infringement notice.
Let’s work together to keep Cook Shire clean and beautiful. Your cooperation is vital in maintaining the health and beauty of our region.