If you illegally dump waste in Mitchell Shire, your chances of getting caught just increased with the installation of new CCTV cameras in illegal dumping hotspots.
Cameras are already in place at various known problem sites throughout our shire. Some even at the entrance points to Mitchell.
Each year, Council typically receives more than 400 reports of illegal dumping and spends more than $180,000 cleaning up and disposing of the dumped material. The money wasted on this could be better spent on a range of important projects and services.
Illegal dumping is a problem right across Victoria on both public and private land. Council is working in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency to curb illegal dumping in Mitchell.
Not only is it unsightly, but the illegal dumping of waste can also cause significant environmental issues including land contamination, pollution of waterways and bushland, increased fire risk, and harm to local wildlife and their habitats.
If caught, offenders are at risk of spot fines or legal action. Illegal dumping can attract a maximum court penalty of $610,700 or seven years imprisonment for an individual and more than $1.2 million for a corporation.
The majority of items that are dumped would be accepted free of charge at Council's Resource Recovery Centres including electronic waste, car batteries, cardboard, gas bottles, foam, and steel.
Ratepayers also receive five vouchers up to the value of $40 per scan on their rates notice each year that can be used at the Resource Recovery Centre either by the landowner or can be passed on to the tenants.
Dob in a dumper. If you see something, say something. Everyone has a role to play.
To report illegally dumped waste please use Report It option online at www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au, or phone Council on 5734 6200 or contact the EPA's 24-hour pollution hotline on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).
