Illegal dumping at rural transfer stations

Published on 05 March 2024

Illegal dumping at rural transfer stations

Rural transfer stations are provided to only accept domestic quantities of waste from local rural-rated residents.

Over the last three months an increasing number of businesses from Bathurst and Sydney have been using the facilities to dump their waste illegally.

As a result, surveillance infrastructure has been installed at rural waste transfer stations, which has resulted in penalties have been issued. In total, 12 show cause notices and 4 penalty notices have been issued to offenders, with 2 contractors from western Sydney charged and issued penalties of over $4,000 each.

Mayor Jess Jennings said the illegal use of the rural transfer stations was concerning and the whole idea of a rural transfer station is that it services the local communities who do not have a kerbside collection and are unable to regularly access the Bathurst Waste Management Centre due to distance.

“Having businesses use the rural transfer stations impacts the residents, causes litter, and costs Bathurst ratepayers in clean up fees. Council is taking the situation seriously and will be issuing penalties to offenders, he said.”

In 2023 Bathurst’s Illegal Dumping Strategy was finalised and was used to secure EPA grant funding to prevent illegal dumping across the local government area. Key objectives of the strategy will be implemented throughout 2024 to identify people responsible and penalised for illegal dumping.

Mobile illegal dumping cameras have been deployed around the affected areas of the Bathurst Regional Council LGA to ensure offenders are caught and penalised. Penalties of up to $8,000 can be issued on the spot for illegal dumping incidents. Council would like to encourage the community to report illegal dumping using RID Online or call Council on 6333 6111.