New surveillance cameras are being installed by Tweed Shire Council in a bid to discourage illegal dumping of items like mattresses, broken toys and damaged furniture across the Tweed.
The cameras will support Council staff to identify offenders more quickly and act as a strong deterrent against people dumping household waste in public bins, bushland, road reserves and rural areas.
Illegal dumping costs the Tweed community more than $200,000 each year, with more than 200 incidents reported annually. Beyond clean-up costs, dumped waste damages the environment, attracts pests, creates odours and allows invasive weeds to spread.
Cleaning up the dumped and damaged goods also has an impact on Council staff because they never know what hazards, including wildlife like snakes, may be hiding in the rubbish. In contrast, waste taken to Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre is known and managed, allowing staff to handle it safely.
Resource Recovery Unit Coordinator Rodney Dawson said the whole community pays the price for illegal dumping.
"Illegal dumping impacts all of us and costs everyone. It damages the places we care about," Mr Dawson said.
"Surveillance cameras have been shown to be a strong deterrent and are one of the tools we can use to manage illegal dumping in public places.
"We know the community has asked us to take stronger action, and we are doing what we can to protect and preserve our shared places."
There are no excuses for disposing of waste illegally, with a range of free and convenient disposal options available for households across the Tweed, including:
