People illegally dumping across Brisbane are being caught in the act by camouflaged surveillance cameras, with Brisbane City Council handing out more than $110,000 in fines in the past financial year.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane roadsides, parks and bushland were no place for rubbish, and Council was closely watching known dumping hotspots right across Brisbane.
“I have zero tolerance for illegal dumpers, as the dirty act takes away from the attractiveness of our beautiful city,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Illegal dumping is blatant laziness and disrespect for the law and I will not stand for this behaviour from residents.
“We want to keep Brisbane clean and our precious bushland looking pristine, but unfortunately a small number of people are doing the wrong thing, despite there being plenty of places to dispose of waste for free, or at a very low cost.
“In the past financial year, Council received 1138 reports of illegal dumping, with the most incidents occurring in Forest Lake, Sunnybank Hills, Chermside, Carindale, Willawong and Inala.
“With almost 100 camouflage motion-activated CCTV cameras and regular patrols there were 46 fines for illegal dumping, totalling $111,150, issued in the past financial year.”
Cr Schrinner said Council spent about $500,000 every year cleaning up the mess of people who continue to rubbish Brisbane.
“Every dollar spent cleaning up their mess is money that could be invested back into the community and spent on things like footpaths, parks or roads” he said.
“I encourage residents to correctly dispose of their rubbish, and warn them that if you do the wrong thing, you will be caught, and fined.
“In 2018-19 the worst individual offender received a $9461 fine after they dumped more than 10 wheelie bins worth of rubbish on Johnson Road at Heathwood while a business was fined $13,000 for dumping construction waste on the roadside at Rocklea.
“This should serve as a reminder to everyone that if we have to clean up after you, we will make you pay.”
Cr Schrinner said Council provided several services to help residents dispose of waste correctly and responsibly.
“We provide free kerbside collection for large items, weekly and fortnightly bin collections, dedicated days to remove hazardous waste and Resource Recovery Centre waste vouchers,” he said.
“There really is no excuse for residents to be illegally dumping anywhere in Brisbane.”