Illegal dumping case study – Ashfield Council
Goal
Using a grant from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to apply a more holistic and strategic approach to reducing illegal dumping in priority areas: multi-unit dwellings, roadsides and laneways.
Actions
- Identified five illegal dumping hotspots before prioritising one for trialling landscape beautification works.
- Increased awareness of options for disposing of waste (free clean-up days, resource recovery centres) through an extensive advertising campaign which produced and distributed magnets, multi-lingual signs and flyers.
- Erected signs in pertinent locations about the legal implications of dumping and associated fines and penalties.
- Used bright pink notification tape and flagging to draw attention to waste that had been illegally dumped.
Top tips
- Landscaping can be designed to increase the effort required to dump waste illegally (making access difficult and improving visibility), and increase community pride – removing the provocation to dump. Dumping stopped once the visual amenity of the hotspot was improved.
- Cost and convenience are major factors. Increasing awareness of other options for waste disposal will deter many people from dumping waste, especially if they are perceived as cost-effective. After the advertising campaign 25% more clean-up bookings were lodged and illegal dumping incidents reduced by 13%.
- Project planning must reflect details. A contingency plan and flexibility in the project costing can help to deal with underestimating costs.