Tara Murray
Rubbish dumpers are being put on notice, with Brimbank council set to issue tougher penalties.
Under stronger powers, council officers have the ability to issue on-the-spot fines of up to $1800 for individual dumpers, up from $361.
Businesses also face tougher penalties of on-the-spot-fines of up to $9087.
Brimbank council spent about $1 million in 2020-21 investigating, enforcing and cleaning up illegally dumped rubbish.
It’s hoped the new fines will help act as a deterrent to the dumping of rubbish.
Mayor Ranka Rasic said the cost of rubbish dumping to the community was shocking.
“Actions like tougher penalties aimed at the minority of people doing the wrong thing will hopefully be a strong deterrent,” Cr Rasic said.
“I also urge the rest of our community to keep doing the right thing – recycle, donate items in good condition to charity, dispose of items you no longer need responsibly.”
Ways to get rid of rubbish include the council’s at-call hard waste collection service, with one free collection per year.
Electric waste like televisions, computers, hard drives, printers, faxes, clean cardboard, paint tins and all types of batteries can be dropped off at council’s Resource Recovery Centre when it reopens after restrictions are eased.
Anyone who comes across litter can report it at brimbank.vic.gov.au/report-it
Tara Murray
