The state government is supporting councils and land managers to tackle illegal dumping with a new $8.5 million Illegal Dumping Clean-up Rebate Program.
The government will chip in 50 per cent of the clean-up costs for councils and Crown land management committees for claims up to $250,000 when the perpetrator cannot be traced and recover costs have been exhausted or are not feasible, at a maximum of $500,000 per financial year.
This will be limited to 25 per cent of costs up to $75,000 per claim and capped at $150,000 per financial year for Parks Victoria and the Department of Transport and Planning (VicRoads and VicTrack).
Contractor costs for the collection, transport and disposal of illegally dumped waste, rent of equipment such as skip bin, trailer, bobcat for disposal or fees for waste disposal at a place authorised to receive it will all be eligible for the rebate.
“We welcome any State government support to help us manage the time‑consuming and costly task of investigating and removing illegally dumped rubbish, which costs Yarra Ranges ratepayers around $400,000 dollars each year,” Yarra Ranges Council Acting Mayor Gareth Ward said.
To help ensure more dumpers are caught, the government has also invested $13 million into the Illegal Dumping Taskforce to ramp up surveillance, enforcement and clean-up efforts across the state.
The taskforce will be led by the EPA, who will work with Conservation Regulator and undertake enforcement activities using expanded intelligence and monitoring to detect and respond to waste crimes in key locations.
“Too often councils and public land managers are left with a costly mess to clean up from the actions of wrongdoers – this rebate scheme provides support to help cover these costs and keep our suburbs and towns clean,” Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said.
Rubbish dumping and littering on public land is illegal with a maximum penalty of $3,951,800 for businesses and $800,000 for individuals or five years imprisonment, or both.
To report illegal dumping call the EPA on 1300 372 842.
