Program helps reduce illegal dumping

Published: 14 July 2021. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

A program to curtail illegal dumping in the Cairns region has resulted in a significant decrease in incidents reported to Council.

The nine-month program, which ran from July 2020 to May 2021, responded to a total of 468 reports of illegal dumping, constituting almost 600 tonnes of waste.

In the three-month period from July to October 2020 there were 227 incidents reports, compared to 241 reported in the following six months (November 2020 to May 2021), equating to an 88% decrease by the end of the program.

Illegal dumping of green waste was most prominent and accounted for 151 incidents, there were 106 reports relating to the illegal dumping of household waste, and 27 incidents involving construction materials.

Council has a Litter and Illegal Dumping Action Plan that sets goals and associated actions to address litter and illegal dumping through infrastructure to improve access to responsible waste disposal, education and enforcement to discourage irresponsible disposal of waste.

Littering and illegal dumping can be report through Council’s Online Self Service Portal, via the free My Cairns app, or by calling 1300 69 22 47.