Dumping, including building supplies and garden waste, is not only ugly, it can damage our environment, harm our wildlife and native flora, and even human health. Illegal dumping has no place on our Northern Beaches!
Adding to other people's bulky goods clean-up piles or placing your materials out on the kerb-side without a bulky goods clean-up booking is also illegal dumping and fines may apply.
Report illegal dumping
Any dumped material should be reported (whether the person responsible is known or not) so that Council can take action to identify the person or business, and arrange removal of the dumped material.
If you see someone dumping in reserves, back streets or our bushland areas, please take note/photo of the vehicle registration, description of the vehicle and person and the date and time, then report the dumping.
Or call:
- Northern Beaches Council - 1300 434 434
- NSW Environment Line - 131 555
- Crime Stoppers - 1800 333 000
- NSW Police - 131 444
Fines for littering and illegal dumping
Enforcement action can result in Clean-Up/Prevention Notices with an attached fee of $535, as well as on-the-spot fines ranging from $80 for a small item/extinguished cigarette, to $4,000 for a large pile of illegally dumped waste eg vegetation/building waste. For offending corporations all offence amounts are double that of an individual.
Prosecution for serious/repeat offenders under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 can result in a maximum penalty of $1,000,000 for individuals and $5,000,000 for corporations.
Shopping trolleys
Council aims to keep our streets clean and free of abandoned shopping trolleys from the local supermarkets. Please report abandoned or dumped shopping trolleys to Trolley Tracker or call 1800 641 497.
Dumping garden waste in Council reserves
Under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, illegal dumping in a reserve may lead to fines and penalties. This includes garden waste.
Illegal dumping of vegetation can smother native plants, harbour weed propagules, be a potential fire hazard and increase nutrient loads detrimental to the health of native bushland. Such impacts may adversely affect restoration works being undertaken to maintain our natural reserves.
Residents should use green waste bins, consider composting or take it to Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre (free of charge for Northern Beaches residents).