Across Sydney’s suburbs, a growing tide of illegally dumped waste is stretching local councils to their limits, with millions of dollars now being funnelled into clean-up efforts. Discarded household goods, construction debris, and even hazardous materials are appearing in residential streets, industrial zones, parks, and nature strips, posing both environmental and public health risks.
As the crisis deepens, councils are ramping up their responses with everything from increased ranger patrols to deploying mobile surveillance units and launching community education campaigns.
Over the past two years, the scale of the problem has surged dramatically. In the Liverpool Council area, illegal dumping incidents exploded from 1,335 to 4,131—a more than threefold increase. Campbelltown topped that figure last financial year with 4,600 reported cases, while the Northern Beaches Council recorded 2,854.
The waste being dumped is far from limited to household clutter. While whitegoods like fridges, discarded electronics, mattresses, and piles of building rubble are common, council workers have also encountered more unusual—and disturbing—items. These have included abandoned boats, personal documents such as birth certificates, coin collections, and in one case, a realistic mannequin mistaken for a corpse, which prompted a panicked call to Campbelltown Council.
For many councils, the escalating dumping problem has become a serious budgetary concern. The City of Parramatta reported spending approximately $1 million over the past year removing more than 4,100 items illegally abandoned across its jurisdiction. In Blacktown, clean-up costs reached $1.58 million for the same period.
This financial strain means councils are being forced to divert resources away from other community services. Local Government NSW president Phyllis Miller explained that the rising cost of the state’s landfill levy—commonly known as the waste levy—is partly to blame.
“The waste levy has made legally disposing of rubbish more expensive. In a time when families are feeling the pinch from inflation and cost-of-living pressures, some people are choosing to avoid those fees by dumping illegally,” Miller said. “Unfortunately, that cost ends up back on the community anyway, as councils have to clean up the mess.”
The NSW waste levy is a per-tonne charge applied to councils and landfill operators, which is then passed on to residents and businesses through tipping fees. While it is intended to encourage recycling and reduce landfill use, critics argue it has had the unintended effect of driving some residents to dump waste in public spaces to avoid paying.
Miller believes the combination of rising fees and a lack of awareness or concern about the legal consequences has led some people to treat public spaces as “free disposal zones.”
“We’re seeing a mix of people doing the wrong thing deliberately, and others who may not even realise how harmful their actions are,” she said.
Beyond the financial and aesthetic impact, illegal dumping carries real risks. Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins highlighted the environmental concerns and safety issues associated with the problem.
“Dumped rubbish can damage sensitive ecosystems, block pedestrian pathways, and create hazards for children and pets,” Heins said. “It also sends the message that an area is neglected, which can invite further antisocial behaviour.”
Materials like asbestos and construction debris present an even greater risk. Inhaling asbestos fibres can lead to serious long-term health complications, and the presence of such materials in public spaces poses a danger not only to council workers but to the general public as well.
To tackle the issue, councils across Sydney are turning to a combination of prevention, detection, and enforcement strategies.
Mobile CCTV Units: Councils including Parramatta, Camden, Campbelltown, Ryde, and Sutherland have deployed temporary surveillance cameras to known dumping hotspots. These units are moved regularly to monitor different areas and act as a visible deterrent.
Ranger Patrols: Increased ranger presence in high-risk zones allows councils to respond more quickly to dumping incidents and identify offenders in the act.
Community Education: Northern Beaches Council has focused on targeted awareness campaigns, reminding residents of proper disposal methods and the penalties for illegal dumping.
Public Deterrents: Some councils are taking creative approaches—Randwick Council is planting garden beds on nature strips in problem areas like Coogee to prevent access, while Camden has erected physical barriers around commonly targeted sites.
Lighting and Signage: Brighter lighting in parks and industrial areas, along with prominent signage about surveillance and penalties, has been shown to deter night-time dumping.
Forensic Investigation: Lane Cove Council goes a step further by examining dumped items for identifying details—such as letters, packaging, or receipts—that can be used to trace offenders and issue fines.
Illegal dumping is particularly acute around high-density residential buildings, where transient populations and less oversight create anonymity for offenders.
A spokesperson for Georges River Council said, “Unit blocks and apartment complexes tend to have high turnover of tenants, and people often leave items behind when moving out. The lack of accountability makes it easier for some to just dump things outside rather than arrange for proper disposal.”
This trend has prompted calls for more accessible waste services for renters and strata properties, such as on-demand collections or dedicated hard rubbish disposal zones.
Illegal dumping isn’t restricted to public parks and streets. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has reported a sharp increase in cases involving private land. Since January, the EPA has issued 45 clean-up notices to private landowners where illegal waste was discovered.
One notable case involved the Sydney Animal Memorial Cemetery and Crematorium in Berkshire Park, where more than 6,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste was reportedly dumped. The site’s owner, Shane McGraw, said he was unaware of how the material got there but confirmed that he was cooperating with the EPA to clean up the site.
Such incidents highlight how illegal dumping can involve large-scale, organised activity, not just casual offenders.
While the maximum fine for individuals caught illegally dumping waste in NSW currently stands at $16,000, many believe that the penalty doesn’t reflect the damage caused—especially when hazardous materials are involved.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone has been vocal in calling for stronger consequences. “$16,000 simply isn’t enough of a deterrent when you’re talking about dumping construction waste or asbestos. These actions not only cost councils a fortune, they’re putting public health at risk,” he said.
He is urging the state government to review penalty thresholds and consider significantly increasing fines for more serious or repeat offences.
Councils agree that enforcement and clean-up efforts, while essential, will not solve the problem alone. Long-term change requires community involvement, better access to legal disposal options, and state-level policy reforms.
There are growing calls for the NSW government to reinvest more of the revenue from the waste levy back into local waste management programs—helping councils provide more free collection services, subsidise tip fees for low-income households, and fund education campaigns.
Many residents are also encouraged to report dumping when they see it. Several councils offer online reporting tools and mobile apps that allow people to submit photos and locations of illegally dumped waste anonymously.
As Sydney continues to grow, the challenge of managing waste responsibly becomes even more pressing. Illegal dumping is a symptom of broader issues—ranging from affordability and housing turnover to gaps in public awareness.
Tackling the crisis will require collaboration between councils, state authorities, residents, and industry. While enforcement tools like CCTV and fines are crucial, they must be supported by community education, accessible disposal options, and stronger deterrents for large-scale offenders.
In the meantime, Sydney’s councils are left to clean up the mess—both figuratively and literally—while working to prevent the next load of rubbish from appearing where it doesn’t belong.