The cost of cleaning up an illegally dumped tyre has risen 41 per cent in two years, a new national report has found. Councils paid an average of $31 to recover each tyre in 2024–25, up from $22 in 2022–23, lifting their annual bill to $7.5 million. State land managers spent a further $1.3 million clearing tyres from parks, forests and roadsides. Tyre Stewardship Australia chief executive Lina Goodman said motorists were effectively paying twice, once at the tyre shop and again through rates.
A Central Coast writer asks what has happened to civic pride. The writer questions whether Wyong councillors are blind to dumped rubbish in the area, calling it highly embarrassing.
The Victorian Government is using drones, long-range cameras and more officers to crack down on illegal dumping. The measures cover the Hume, Melton, Banyule and Greater Geelong council areas. Advanced drones can detect rubbish under vegetation and buried waste, while sniffer drones detect gases. Cameras can capture footage of trucks up to a kilometre away. Offenders face fines of up to about $800,000 or five years in prison.
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Illegal waste dumpers across Greater Geelong are being put on notice under a new state government crackdown. Greater Geelong will partner with the Illegal Waste Dumping Taskforce at sites where councils report rising unlawful dumping. Environment Minister Jaclyn Symes said drones and long-range cameras will be used to find dumped rubbish and identify those responsible. EPA executive director of operations Rachel Gualano said councils are being encouraged to help, adding that solutions will be tailored to each site. Residents who spot illegal dumping can report it to EPA Victoria.
Four Victorian councils will work with the state's Illegal Waste Dumping Taskforce to target dumping hotspots. Hume, Banyule, Melton and Greater Geelong will use drones, surveillance cameras and extra officers to identify offenders. The Environment Protection Authority is also deploying drones that detect gases. The taskforce has issued 22 clean-up orders and identified 18 new leads. Convicted individuals can face fines of about $800,000 or five years' imprisonment. Victorian Minister for Environment Jaclyn Symes said the new technology makes it harder for dumpers to hide.
The City of Greater Geelong is joining a Victorian state taskforce to target illegal dumping hotspots. The $21.5 million taskforce uses drones with sensors that can find rubbish hidden under vegetation or buried underground, along with long-range cameras. Environment Minister Jaclyn Symes said the technology would help catch offenders. Greater Geelong has received more than 6,600 requests to remove dumped rubbish in 2024-25, a figure that has risen each year since 2021. Individuals face fines of up to about $800,000 or five years in prison, and businesses face penalties of up to $3.95 million.
Illegal dumping is costing Wyndham ratepayers millions, prompting tougher enforcement and calls for better waste services. Some social media users have blamed Indian and South Asian residents, though published enforcement findings do not identify offenders by ethnicity. The Victorian Government has expanded enforcement through the $21.5 million Illegal Waste Dumping Taskforce, using drones, long-range cameras and additional officers. Authorities have issued 22 clean-up orders and identified 18 new investigative leads. Residents and advocates continue to debate council services, landlord responsibilities and how the problem should be addressed.
Council says illegal dumping harms the parks, reserves and open spaces that everyone shares, and officials expressed disappointment at such conduct. A person was recently caught leaving mulch in the Chelsworth Park car park, a seemingly minor act that still required clean-up, restoration and an investigation. Council's Local Laws team traced the repeat offender, who received a fine of more than $10,000. Because dumped mulch may be contaminated, it cannot be reused or handed out. Residents are urged to report dumping.
The Victorian government is deploying drones, long-range cameras and extra enforcement officers to target illegal rubbish dumping in four council areas. Hume, Banyule, Melton and Greater Geelong councils will work with the $21.5 million Illegal Waste Dumping Taskforce. Environment Minister Jaclyn Symes says the operation will help track down offenders. Businesses can face fines of up to $3.95 million, while individuals face penalties of up to approximately $800,000 or five years' imprisonment, depending on the offence.
Illegal dumping hotspots in Wyndham, targeted by EPA Victoria and the local council, have stayed free of waste two months after a taskforce crackdown. Over two days, inspectors checked skip bin operators and 36 building sites. This led to 22 clean-up and intelligence-gathering notices and 18 leads to help identify offenders. Wyndham mayor Mia Shaw said the council cannot tackle illegal dumping alone and valued working with the EPA. EPA operations executive director Rachel Gualano said the crackdown aims to stop people who make and transport waste before it reaches parks and roadsides.
Burdekin Shire Council has secured Queensland Government funding to combat illegal dumping and protect the local environment. The three-year commitment will keep the council's dedicated Illegal Dumping Officer in place, supporting investigations, community education and quick responses to reports. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said illegal dumping can harm the environment, create health risks and add clean-up costs that fall on ratepayers. The council is urging residents to report dumping incidents and use the waste disposal facilities available across the Burdekin.
An Altona North resident has suggested demolishing Borrack Square because of repeated illegal rubbish dumping. Geoff Mitchelmore, a former Hobsons Bay Citizen of the Year, said a recent pile of rubbish stayed on the McArthurs Road side for almost a month. He also pointed to the loss of the centre's Woolworths supermarket in 2024 and three shooting incidents this year. Mr Mitchelmore said shopkeepers' dumping and council inaction were the main concerns. Hobsons Bay council said the rubbish had been collected, acknowledged residents' frustration, and is reviewing options to prevent repeat dumping.
A man has been fined $10,000 for running an illegal tip on council-owned land in Wollert, Melbourne. The clean-up has cost ratepayers about $3 million. Mohamad Yassin Yousef Sadek was also ordered to pay $5,000 towards the Environmental Protection Agency's costs. The EPA says he accepted industrial waste from truck drivers in 2021, and about 11,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and rubbish later had to be removed. Some of the waste contained asbestos. An expert says the fine was likely less than the cost of lawful disposal.
