The Palaszczuk Government is providing over $5 million in funding to local councils across Queensland to help crack down on illegal dumping.
Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leeanne Enoch said illegal dumping had a serious impact on communities.
“The Palaszczuk Government is currently fighting a war on waste, and we are ensuring that councils have the support they need to tackle this issue, to protect the environment and create local jobs,” Ms Enoch said.
“Illegal dumping costs Queensland communities millions of dollars each year, and this funding for the councils will help at a local level to ensure a clean and safe community, while protecting the environment.”
Minister Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government is providing a total $5 million across Queensland to help councils employ new officers, increase surveillance and improve signage to reduce dumping in known hotspots.
“We have seen the success of the local government pilot partnership program, where we have already helped four councils increase jobs to combat illegal dumping.
“Thanks to the success of this pilot, we are now expanding the program across Queensland, with more than $3.6 million going to 29 Queensland councils to fund a total 31 new dedicated illegal dumping field officer positions.
“This funding will help local Councils to employ additional illegal dumping officers, hold target programs, boost intelligence and enhance reporting on illegal dumping activities.
Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Greg Hallam welcomed the additional funding.
“The initial pilot program has already had early success for the four councils involved. The LGAQ welcomes its expansion to additional councils across the state,” Mr Hallam said.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Government on measures to help ease the burden of illegal dumping on Queensland communities.”
Ms Enoch said in addition, the Palaszczuk Government is also providing $1.3 million in funding to 32 councils across Queensland through a dumping hotspot program, to support regional programs that tackle illegal dumping at a local level.
Minister Enoch said the Queensland Government takes illegal dumping very seriously.
“Corporations that are found guilty of illegal dumping can face fines of up to $667,250 in some circumstances,” she said.
“By working together, we can send a strong message that illegal dumping will not be tolerated and it’s up to all Queenslander’s to do their part to keep our state clean.”
The Palaszczuk Government is investing $100 million in Queensland to grow our state’s resource recovery sector and create jobs through the Resource Recovery Industry Development Program.
In addition, the container refund scheme, Containers for Change, has seen 1 billion containers returned in the past year and supported 700 jobs.
In 2019, the government also released a new Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy which includes a vision for Queensland to become a zero-waste society, where waste is avoided, reused and recycled to the greatest possible extent.
For more information, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/pollution/management/waste/litter-illegal-dumping