FAQs

Illegal dumping is the unlawful disposal of waste, more than just small amounts of litter onto land or into water without permission. This includes rubbish left on roadsides, bushland, waterways, reserves, or private property. It can range from household items to soil, construction waste, green waste, tyres, car parts, and even asbestos. 

Illegal dumping has increased five‑fold in the past five years across the Shoalhaven. In 2024/25, Council recorded over 2,000 illegal dumping jobs, the highest in NSW. 

The Shoalhaven’s landscape makes it especially vulnerable, covering 4,660 square kilometres, with 65% publicly accessible bushland, and a population that grows from 110,000 to over 300,000 during summer. This increases waste pressure and opportunities for illegal disposal.

Dumped waste contaminates bushland, waterways and wetlands, harms local habitats, and threatens native wildlife, including 156 threatened fauna species found in the Shoalhaven. 

Hazardous waste types like asbestos, chemicals, tyres and car parts create long‑term pollution and health risks. 

In the past 12 months alone, more than 1,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste was found across the Shoalhaven, the equivalent weight of 270 male elephants. 

Waste types included: 

• 346.93 tonnes of soil & excavated material
• 331.30 tonnes of household waste
• 114.52 tonnes of green waste
• 69.93 tonnes of vehicle parts
• 18.99 tonnes of tyres
• 12.06 tonnes of scrap metal
• 3.96 tonnes of asbestos

If you see dumped rubbish with a yellow X or yellow tape, please ignore it.

This marking means:

• The dumping has been reported
• A council investigator has attended the site
• An investigation is underway
• A collection job has been assigned to council or sent to the relevant landowner (e.g., Crown Lands, NPWS, Forestry)

There is no need to report it again as the waste is already queued for removal.

You can report dumping via:

• RID online (preferred reporting method)
• Contacting Shoalhaven City Council directly

Reports should include:

• Location (GPS if possible)
• Description of waste
• Photos (if safe to take)

Council is delivering a holistic strategy that includes:

• Education and community engagement, including school programs and social media campaigns
• Interagency collaboration with Crown Lands, NPWS, Forestry, EPA and more
• Prevention infrastructure, such as access barriers, gates and bollards
• Enhanced compliance and enforcement, including trail cameras, surveillance and improved evidence tools
• Programs supported by $76,428 EPA grant funding for training, events, and prevention strategies

Every dumping incident must first be:

• Reported
• Investigated
• Documented for compliance and legal purposes
• Assigned to the correct landowner for removal

Some sites are not council-owned, so waste can only be removed once the landowner (Crown Lands, NPWS, Forestry etc.) is notified and schedules collection. 

The key difference between illegal dumping and littering is the amount of waste and the intent behind it.

Key differences and usage examples in NSW:

Illegal Dumping: Illegal dumping is the deliberate disposal of larger amounts of waste (more than 50 kg or 50 litres).

This often includes items like:

• mattresses
• tyres
• furniture
• bags of commercial waste
• chemical drums

People often dump illegally to avoid disposal fees or effort. Because it involves larger, sometimes hazardous waste, the penalties are much higher and can include significant fines or even imprisonment.

Littering: Littering is the small‑scale disposal of rubbish, often done casually or carelessly.

Common examples include:

• throwing a drink bottle or food wrapper on the ground
• dropping cigarette butts
• tossing small waste out of a car window

Littering penalties are generally lower than illegal dumping and are issued under the Protection of the Environment Operations (POEO) Act.

Community support is essential. You can help by:

• Reporting dumping as soon as you see it via Rid online
• Disposing of waste legally at Waste & Recycling facilities
• Educating neighbours, friends, or groups about the impacts and penalties
• Participating in community events, clean-ups and awareness activities
• Sharing your ideas through the Ideas Wall on this page. Your suggestions can help shape future strategies, support positive behaviour change, and contribute directly to solutions that benefit the whole community.