Dumping waste illegally costs one tradie $30,000—and sends a warning to others
- Replies 3
Illegal dumping continues to be a persistent issue across many Australian communities, raising environmental and public health concerns.
Recent events have highlighted just how costly and damaging these actions can be when left unchecked.
What unfolds next reveals the consequences faced by those caught flouting the law.
A tradie faced a hefty $30,000 fine after being caught dumping large amounts of wood mulch on public land in Mount Colah, on the northern outskirts of Sydney.
The offending act was captured in a photograph taken by a member of the public, showing the man standing next to a truck unloading piles of garden waste.
Following the discovery, Hornsby Shire Council demanded the removal of the mulch, but the tradie reportedly refused to comply.
A council spokesperson shared: ‘All waste must be disposed of to a lawful waste facility. The person generating the waste and the person involved in illegally dumping are liable for significant fines under the Protection of Environment Operations Act.’
They added: ‘Dumped waste can pollute the environment, cause harm to residents’ health and costs our rate payers a significant expense to clean up.’
An aerial photo shared by the council showed the extent of the wood mulch dumped on the public land.
The council warned the public on social media that although residents can reuse tree lopping mulch, it was ‘not appropriate for anyone conducting a business to unlawfully deposit their waste on public land.’
Local residents voiced their opinions online, with some expressing they often needed mulch and would have gladly bought it from the tradie.
Others were far less forgiving, describing the act as ‘grubby’ and calling for harsher penalties to deter such illegal dumping.
The council reminded the community that fines for illegal dumping ‘far outweigh the short-term savings from not lawfully disposing of their waste.’
They also stressed that ‘illegal dumpers risk being caught and facing significant fines and or court action.’
This was not the first time Hornsby Shire Council dealt with mulch dumped illegally, having managed a similar situation back in 2014.
Yahoo News has reported numerous illegal dumping cases around Australia recently, including a $62,000 fine issued in Western Australia after asbestos was dumped near Margaret River.
In another incident, a nearly $3,000 fine was imposed after household rubbish was dumped in Townsville to avoid paying a $20 tip fee.
Fines for illegal dumping vary by state and territory, with severe offences potentially attracting penalties exceeding $250,000 for individuals and up to $1 million for corporations.
In a previous story, another case of illegal dumping highlighted the serious consequences of trying to avoid disposal fees.
The driver involved faced a hefty fine after dumping rubbish unlawfully.
Read on to learn more about how authorities are cracking down on these costly offences.
What do you think is the best way to stop illegal dumping in our communities? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Recent events have highlighted just how costly and damaging these actions can be when left unchecked.
What unfolds next reveals the consequences faced by those caught flouting the law.
A tradie faced a hefty $30,000 fine after being caught dumping large amounts of wood mulch on public land in Mount Colah, on the northern outskirts of Sydney.
The offending act was captured in a photograph taken by a member of the public, showing the man standing next to a truck unloading piles of garden waste.
Following the discovery, Hornsby Shire Council demanded the removal of the mulch, but the tradie reportedly refused to comply.
Tradie fined $30,000 for illegal mulch dumping. Image source: Facebook/Hornsy Shire Council
A council spokesperson shared: ‘All waste must be disposed of to a lawful waste facility. The person generating the waste and the person involved in illegally dumping are liable for significant fines under the Protection of Environment Operations Act.’
They added: ‘Dumped waste can pollute the environment, cause harm to residents’ health and costs our rate payers a significant expense to clean up.’
An aerial photo shared by the council showed the extent of the wood mulch dumped on the public land.
The council warned the public on social media that although residents can reuse tree lopping mulch, it was ‘not appropriate for anyone conducting a business to unlawfully deposit their waste on public land.’
Local residents voiced their opinions online, with some expressing they often needed mulch and would have gladly bought it from the tradie.
Others were far less forgiving, describing the act as ‘grubby’ and calling for harsher penalties to deter such illegal dumping.
The council reminded the community that fines for illegal dumping ‘far outweigh the short-term savings from not lawfully disposing of their waste.’
They also stressed that ‘illegal dumpers risk being caught and facing significant fines and or court action.’
This was not the first time Hornsby Shire Council dealt with mulch dumped illegally, having managed a similar situation back in 2014.
Yahoo News has reported numerous illegal dumping cases around Australia recently, including a $62,000 fine issued in Western Australia after asbestos was dumped near Margaret River.
In another incident, a nearly $3,000 fine was imposed after household rubbish was dumped in Townsville to avoid paying a $20 tip fee.
Fines for illegal dumping vary by state and territory, with severe offences potentially attracting penalties exceeding $250,000 for individuals and up to $1 million for corporations.
In a previous story, another case of illegal dumping highlighted the serious consequences of trying to avoid disposal fees.
The driver involved faced a hefty fine after dumping rubbish unlawfully.
Read on to learn more about how authorities are cracking down on these costly offences.
What do you think is the best way to stop illegal dumping in our communities? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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