Help stop illegal dumping in our city

 

Illegal dumping of rubbish is a growing problem in our City and across Melbourne. In the last 12 months alone more then 6000 tonnes of rubbish was illegally dumped in the City of Melton.

It’s time for that to stop.


Illegal dumping comes at a huge cost to our hard-working community. Over the past 12 months, more than $3.1 million was spent cleaning up illegally dumped rubbish in our city. 

Illegal dumping comes at a huge cost to our community. Over the last year, we've spent more than $3.1 million cleaning up illegally dumped rubbish in our city. That’s money that should be funding our roads, community facilities and health programs.

There are simple ways we can all help stop illegal rubbish dumping in our community:

Claim your hard rubbish pick-ups and Recycling Facility visits

If your household currently receives a Council kerbside bin service you are entitled to claim two hard waste collections or two drop offs at the Melton Recycling Facility, or a combination of each, each financial year. This applies to both tenants and owners.

Claim your hard rubbish pick ups and Recycling Facility visits

Report dumped rubbish

If you see dumped rubbish you can report it using our quick and easy online form, or if you prefer you can call us. We’ll get a crew out to clean it up as soon as possible.

Use our online form to report dumped rubbish
Call us on 9747 7200 to report dumped rubbish

Dob in a dumper

See someone doing the wrong thing? If you have witnessed someone dumping rubbish or have found dumped rubbish containing ID you can report them using our online form, or if you prefer you can call us to report the details.

Use our online form to report a dumper
Call us on 9747 7200 to report a dumper

 

Dumping FAQs

What is considered littering and dumping?

Littering and dumping includes:

  • rubbish, TVs and furniture put on naturestrips/roadsides and outside charity op shops etc
  • furniture and other items left on a nature strip when you vacate a house
  • soil and other building materials left outside a construction site
  • putting household or business rubbish in a public litter bin
  • advertising material placed under windscreen wipers
  • notices and posters placed on buildings, poles etc without prior permission
  • rubbish thrown from motor vehicles
  • cigarette butts, live or extinguished.

Why is littering and dumping wrong?

Litter is one of our major environmental problems. It is anything left where it is not meant to be and includes illegal dumping of any materials.

Council takes littering and dumping seriously as this behaviour adversely affects the environment and the amenity of our community spaces.

Instances of littering and dumping often lead to more littering and dumping in the same area.

Litter damages the environment and our health. Litter on our streets gets into gutters and finds its way into creeks, rivers and oceans. Plastic breaks down but only into smaller pieces which wildlife can mistake for food. Litter leaches chemicals into waterways over time.

Dumped materials can be harmful to human health, especially if they contain dangerous substances. If you come across unknown chemicals or materials you think may be asbestos - do not attempt to handle or clean them up. Instead, contact Council immediately on 9747 7200. An experienced staff member will attend to the site as soon as possible to assess the dumped items.

What are the fines for littering and dumping?

If you commit a littering offence you can be fined a minimum of $395 and up to $1976. Fines for corporations range from $1976 to $9880.

Offenders may be summoned to appear in court.

Is Melton Recycling Facility expensive?

In general, the prices for drop offs at Melton Recycling Facility are cheaper than those of neighbouring Council tips and those across Melbourne's west. You can do your own comparison by visiting the waste pages at other Council websites.

Melton Recycling Facility also offers a Front End Resource Recovery Centre where you can drop off items such as paint, batteries, engine oil, cardboard and more for free all year round.

Find out more about Melton Recycling Facility 

How can I dispose of recyclable items for free?

The Melton Recycling Facility has recently opened its Front End Resource Recovery Centre, where you can drop off items such as paint, batteries, engine oil, cardboard and more for free all year round.

Accepted items are:

  • Steel or Solar Panels
  • Mobile Phones
  • E-waste
  • Fluorescent Tubes
  • Car & household batteries
  • Cardboard and paper (excludes magazines)
  • Co-mingled Recycling
  • Motor Oil (max 10L containers, up to 50L)
  • Cooking Oil (max 25L containers, up to 50L)
  • Paint (max 100L no larger than 20L containers)

The below items require proof of residency or payment, and must be taken through the gatehouse:

  • Whitegoods
  • Gas bottles (up to 9kg)

Find out more about the Front End Resource Recovery Centre

Back to top