Currently illegal dumping offences are dealt with by the enforcement of the Litter Act 1979 but there are changes proposed that will ensure illegal dumping becomes an offence in its own right with associated higher penalties, especially for corporations who dump to avoid tipping fees.
Read the April 2006 media release below to find out more.
Corporations could face considerably greater monetary penalties for illegal dumping of waste materials under proposed changes to WA's Litter Act.
Tougher penalties and the inclusion of illegal dumping as an offence under the Act are among a range of new measures to be introduced.
Former Environment Minister Mark McGowan announced the proposed changes as well as the launch of WA's first litter prevention strategy.
Mr McGowan said illegal dumping had become a significant issue for the State and that it was time to get tough.
"Millions of dollars are spent annually cleaning up the mess left by people who deliberately dump rubbish in bushland, national parks and on vacant private land" he said.
"In addition to this, there are the costs associated with environmental damage."
Potential environmental effects of littering and illegal dumping include fires sparked by lit cigarette butts, vermin attracted by littered food waste, waterways and soils polluted by hazardous chemicals and threats to wildlife from plastics and other discarded materials.
Mr McGowan said existing penalties under the Litter Act did not reflect the severity of the offence, particularly where illegal dumping was concerned.
"The amendments will clearly differentiate between people who carelessly litter and people who intentionally go out and dump large amounts of rubbish in public areas."
"Serious offences will attract steeper fines."
Mr McGowan said the amendments, which aimed to deter potential offenders, would work hand in hand with the new Litter Prevention Strategy.
The three-year plan aims to encourage long-term behavioural changes through education, raise the profile of litter issues, ensure consistent auditing and evaluation, secure stakeholder commitment and change the focus of litter management from clean up to prevention.
It was prompted by increased community concerns about litter and illegal dumping and a need for WA to have a coordinated approach to litter prevention and management across the State.
"Both the legislative changes and the strategy will change the way we are tackling littering and illegal dumping in this State and ensure we're doing all we can to preserve our environment," Mr McGowan said.
Other proposed amendments to the Litter Act include giving authorised officers increased powers to order site clean-ups and order offenders to meet clean up costs of littering and illegal dumping, and giving Local Government officers, such as rangers, authority to operate across jurisdictions.
